World Bank to assist Nigeria revive technical, vocational education

Joseph Inokotong, Abuja

The World Bank has expressed its readiness to assist Nigeria revive its moribund technical and vocational education and training.

World Bank Education Specialist, Dr. Tunde Adekola, made the remarks in Abuja on Thursday at the inauguration of the national steering committee of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project.

The specialist assured that the World Bank would help Nigeria to realize the IDEAS project in the basic education sector of the country.

Adekola said the project was aimed at promoting and strengthening the skills development system with a view to curbing youth unemployment.

He noted that the project would bring accountability to the education sector and help to establish centres of excellence in all technical colleges so that the non-formal sector of the economy can gain innovations from them.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has urged members of the committee to ensure the realization of the IDEAS project. He tasked them to support the professional development of skills and TVET teachers and other technical staff.

Also, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Sonny Echono, noted that one of the major challenges currently facing the education sector was the high rate of graduate unemployment.

Echono, who was represented by Director of Procurement in the ministry, Mr. Gambo Muazu, stressed the need to ensure the success of the project so as to assist the nation to tackle unemployment.

‘‘Most of the graduates produced from the educational institutions in the country yearly are unable to secure employment in the labour market due to inadequate relevant skills.

‘‘Most industries today are increasingly using advanced technologies and production techniques which require a workforce with increasing level of knowledge and skills.

‘‘In Nigeria, there are skills gap which has in turn led to increasing level of unemployment by the day,” he said.

Echono added that as part of effort in tackling the skill gap, the ministry came up with IDEAS project to create a cadre of persons with requisite entrepreneurial skills to embark on self-employment.

He said this would also impact on graduate unemployment thereby contributing to the nation’s social stability and development.