Lagos to establish 3 more technical colleges, says Dep. Gov

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule has disclosed that arrangements have been concluded by the present administration to establish three more technical colleges in Alimosho, Ibeju-Lekki and Badagry.

Adebule, who also doubles as the Commissioner of Education, disclosed this at the graduation and special awards ceremony for about 1,324 technical students across the five technical colleges in Lagos State where she added that technical and vocational education is one of the best ways to create an effective platform to equip and engage youths with skills that will make them self-reliant.

According to the Deputy Governor, Lagos has the highest number of youths, thus the need to create employment and encourage them to acquire skills that will make them better citizens.

She therefore urged the graduands to develop right attitude to work no matter the level of the skills they have acquired from the colleges.

“In order to encourage youth entrepreneurship, Lagos state government has established Employment Trust Fund. Technical and vocational education remains the only key to technological development of any nation.

Students enrolment into our technical colleges has increased by 21 percent and this administration will continue to improve infrastructural facilities in the five technical colleges across the State”, she said.

Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, in her welcome address, said the journey into graduation has been challenging in terms of academics and individuals.

She urged the graduands to see the world with its many problems as a place to excel especially with the skills they have acquired from the colleges as tools to proffer solution to the problems.

“You can change the world, go ahead and create a world where there is no poverty,” she added.

In his keynote address, Director, Directorate of Degree Programmes, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos, Dr. J.O Owoso, said building the future of citizenry is the hallmark of nation building and Lagos State government has already started in that direction.

Owoso said for technical and vocational education to be effective in nation building, there is the need for adequate funding for the provision of equipment and facilities, recruitment of more teachers in technical colleges to make them masters of the trades they teach as well as Private Public Partnership to make students creative and skillful so that they can readily fit into the world of work.

“Knowledge, skills and right attitude to work are critical to your success, you have been equipped with considerable skills to work but you must have right attitude. Don’t make money at the expense of quality work, use the right tool and facilities and ensure safety at work”, he said.

The guest speaker also urged the graduands to be focused, purposeful and resourceful and to stay away from violence and drugs.

In his valedictory speech, overall best graduating student, Olabisi Abdulrahman from Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja pledged that they will play their parts to make Lagos State the mega city it aspires to be.

Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Prince Durosinmi Eti, said his ministry will collaborate with LASTVEB to give access to the graduands to Employment Trust Fund to support their entrepreneurship drive as well as offer the five best students from the five technical colleges automatic entry into the Graduate Internship Training where they will be paid N50,000 per month.

Esther Taiwo