Polytechnic education relevant to industrial development — Speaker Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Tajudeen Abbas on Monday, said that Polytechnic education would continue to be relevant to the Nigerian economy for the much-needed industrial development.

The  Speaker stated this in Abuja while speaking at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education on four Bills seeking to establish the National Vocational Centre; Federal Artificial Intelligence Institute, Aliade, Benue State; Federal College of Science and Technology, Askira-Uba, Borno; and National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, Wamba, Nasarawa respectfully;

Consequently, the Speaker who was represented at the occasion by Rep Auwalu Gwalabe,  pledged the commitment of the House to appropriate legislation that would foster digital learning and technical education in the country.

He pointed out that what was required was a strong collaboration on the side of the government and all stakeholders, saying that in recent years, there had been an increasing recognition of the important role that science, technical, and vocational education played in national development.

He stated that with the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, it is no longer sufficient for educational institutions to merely impact theoretical knowledge.

He said that the youths must be equipped with practical skills that will enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving technologically driven job market.

The Speaker assured the House was committed to ensuring access to quality education as well as improving educational infrastructure and teacher quality.

He added that reforming and modernising science and technical education were critical steps towards promoting skills acquisition and empowering the youths to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.

He pointed out that the ongoing fight against insecurity must as a matter of necessity consider the provision of functional education to our students and youths to ensure they are gainfully engaged.

According to him, “We are hoping, therefore, that the eventual establishment of these proposed science and technical institutions will provide access to quality technical education, address the skills gap by equipping our graduates with employable skills, promote innovation and entrepreneurship as well as support the current effort of government to diversify the economy”.

He stated that the establishment of these institutions was a testament to the resolve to bridge the gap between education and employment.

According to him, “These proposed institutions will serve as beacons of excellence – providing qualitative education that meets international standards while also being tailored to meet local needs.

“Therefore, today’s hearing aligns seamlessly with our Legislative agenda as mentioned earlier, aimed at enhancing the educational framework within Nigeria.

“We recognise that in an increasingly competitive global environment, it is imperative that our youths have the relevant skills and knowledge,” he said.

He added that the main objectives of establishing these higher technical institutions were to provide qualitative education in science, skills acquisition, art, technical and vocational education.

According to him, “These initiatives are not merely legislative proposals, they represent a commitment to our nation’s future – a future where education serves as a cornerstone for economic growth, social mobility, and national development.

“The establishment of these institutions will ensure that quality education in science, skills, arts, technical and vocational training becomes accessible to all Nigerians.

“The House of Representatives as a responsive institution has recognised the critical importance of education as a key driver in the reform and development of the social sector in Nigeria.

“This is because the quality of human capital, which is necessary for development, will largely depend on the quality of education. Education must not only be qualitative but must also be accessible.

“I therefore urge us all to remain focused, objective and constructive in our inputs, submissions and opinions. Through our robust oversight, the House will continue to ensure transparency and accountability in the governance of our educational institutions”.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep Fuad Kayode Laguda, stated that each of the Bills was designed to improve Nigeria’s educational development and to promote sustainable human capital development necessary for a self-reliant society.

He said that there was a need to prioritise and recognize the advantages that come with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in driving economic growth.

He added that there was also the need for adequate empowerment of Nigerian youths with knowledge of technologies to adequately optimise their contributions to Nigeria’s industrialisation.

The lawmaker pointed the passage of the Bills into Law would not only ensure that the workforce “is technologically empowered, but can also be used to tackle the issues of unemployment, wealth creation, poverty reduction, insecurity and as a veritable tool in curbing youth restrictiveness”.

According to him, “As you may be aware the main objectives of establishment of vocational, entrepreneurship and technical skills acquisition Institutions in Nigeria is aimed at training technicians and middle-level personnel who will act as catalyst for rapid industrialization and the development of our real sector of the economy.

“There is the need, therefore for all the stakeholders here present to be dedicated and committed for a purposeful deliberation as well as making positive inputs and opinions on all the contending issues of the Bills in order to further enrich the content and intendment of the proposed laws. However, the contributions of all the stakeholders here present are important for success of these Bills which seek to address contingent economic issues in Nigeria.”

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