Technical Education, A Strong National Development Instrument – Ilaro Poly Rector

The Rector Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Dr Mukail Akinde has asserted that technical education is a strong national development instrument.

Akinde made this assertion, during a public lecture organised by the Centre for Information Communication and Public Relations, Yaba College of Technology in honour of the immediate past Director of the Centre, Dr Omobayo Taofeek Raheem, held recently at Yusuf Grillo hall of the institution, with the theme:  “Technical Education and National Development: The Place of AI, Its Credibility, Trust and Transparency”.

Dr Akinde described technical education as the academic and vocational training for roles in applied sciences, modern technology and hands-on professions.

He explained  that, technical education, unlike general education, is career oriented, thus allowing the students to gain job specific skills that are in demand by the industries.

The rector noted that, with the global economy increasingly driven by technology, technical education has become essential for workforce development.

According to him, “technical education is vital in national development, because it provides the practical skills and knowledge necessary to promote economic growth industrialization and technological development”.

He maintained that, the skills of the workforce are very crucial to the development of a nation. ” Nations that have strong technical education tend to be more productive and have higher standards of living due to the availability of skilled professionals in major sectors”.

The rector, who was the chairman of the lecture, said technical training promotes innovativeness, and independence which according to him are pillars of sustainability.

Akinde said AI has transformed various spheres like healthcare, finance, education and public administration.

Owing to this, its, credibility, trust and transparency should be in place to ethnically implement AI.

He then urged interdisciplinary collaboration, developers, ethicist, policymakers and end users to ensure AI are not only technically outstanding but also ethically and socially connected.

The guest lecturer, Kolade-Otitoju, represented by Mr Dotun Oladipupo, Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Ltd., enumerated how technical education fosters innovation and equips students with employability skills.

He noted that, such programmes often combine practical training, internships and industry links to ensure graduates are ready for the workforce.

“In many countries, technical education professionals thrive. They solve problems, work with their hands and contribute significantly to national economies”.

The distinguished journalist emphasised the importance of purposeful internships, saying experience gained helps shape careers. Owing to this, he called on institutions to assess students progress during industrial training.

Otitoju lamented that in Nigeria, certification is overvalued, and practical skills are undervalued, thereby hindering national development and discouraging technical education.

He called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to sign into law the bill ending disparity between HND and BSc and increased funding for technical education to inspire more young Nigerians.

Furthermore , he said that  AI plays a vital role in technical institutions and offers great benefits to skilled professionals.

The ace broadcaster warned against excessive reliance on AI and call on the users to tailor its application to needs and work relevance.

Earlier, in his address, the Rector Yaba College of Technology Dr Engr Ibraheem Abdul stated that the institution has consistently championed the role of technical and vocational education in nation- building.

He recognised the transformative impact across spheres like teaching, learning industry and governance.

“It is enabling smart solutions, automating systems, and reshaping how we train future professionals”.

Engr Abdul urged the users to pay close attention to issues of credibility, trust and transparency as they have embrace it’s immense possibilities.

In his remark, the South West Zonal Director, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Mr Ayodele Aroge, criticized Nigeria’s obsession with certificates. He said skills are equally vital for progress.

“NBTE  promotes skill over degrees. Polytechnics should award Bachelors in technical education, hard work drives development. No county develops without valuing technical education and skills”, he said.

The lecture not only celebrated the impactful leadership of Dr. Omobayo Taofeek Raheem but also served as a forum to explore the evolving role of technical education and AI in national development.

The event underscored the need for strategic reforms, ethical innovation, and greater institutional synergy for a more prosperous Nigeria; Aroge emphasized.