Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advocated a strategic shift to Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) in Nigeria’s educational curriculum, berating the current emphasis on paper qualifications over technical  expertise and practical skills.

The governor noted that emphasis on paper qualifications over technical  expertise and practical skills was the major driver of unemployment and economic stagnation in the country.

Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, made the remark last Wednesday during the  commissioning of three major infrastructure  projects at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

He said that if Rivers State and by extension, Nigeria, must prepare her youths for the challenges of the 21st Century,  deliberate and consistent efforts must be made to realign the  curriculum with vocational and technical education focused on practical skills for self employment and job creation.

He recalled that the 6-3-3-4 Educational System which Nigeria adopted in the 1980s was  designed to prepare young Nigerians for  the future through VTE at the secondary school level.

The governor said that under the programme, students were expected to advance their educational pursuits to either  the Polytechnics or Universities depending on their capacities, talents and skills at a young age.

According to him, at the completion of the first three years of  secondary school, a student should have acquired a skill, trade or craft and   could become self employed.

He lamented that over the years, the country appears to have deviated from that noble vision and young people have  become so obsessed with acquiring certificates and degrees without skills and competencies relevant to  the present day labour market.

“The Polytechnic system was designed in such a way that if you’re gifted with your hands; if you’re a technical person, you can go there and  learn more, build your skills so that you can add value to our society. But you know that somehow, our society don’t attach much importance to those level of people. So even when you know that you can’t survive the rigours of academic works, you put your head, struggle to make sure you complete the six years, jump into one university, and  come out with one degree that is not useful. That is part of the problem we are having in our society,” he said.

The Governor explained that the idea behind the Entrepreneurship Center project at Elechi Amadi Polytechnic was to have  a place where  young people can be groomed with relevant skills that could lead them to become employers of labour,  on graduation, instead of job seekers.

Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s focus on developmental projects that will create opportunities and   solve problems of the society.

“So for us as a government, what is important to us is not just about embarking on projects but executing projects that will touch the lives of the people; projects that will solve problems and projects that will bring advancement to  our lives.

“Today, technology has taken over everything. So, if we have to prepare our youths; if we have to prepare our dear State for the challenge ahead, our educational programmes have to be very strategic,” he said.

The governor charged the school authorities, students and the entire community  to safeguard the facilities and equipment against theft and vandalism, adding that they should take ownership of the infrastructure instead of treating them as ‘government property’.

He emphasised the need for the people of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to embrace the new wave of peace in the State, stressing that political stability remains a primary condition for development.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peter Nwagor,  who gave a brief presentation on the projects, said one aspect entailed the construction and complete furnishing of two units of one-story buildings  housing classrooms, workshops, staff quarters, and administrative wings for the School of Engineering and the Entrepreneurship Center.

Each building spans approximately 1,940 square meters, featuring eight halls, 14 staff offices, 22 toilet facilities, and fully air-conditioned spaces equipped for practical training.

He said the third project, the Governing Council Building, was started by the Nyesom Wike administration but completed and fully furnished by the Fubara-led administration.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Moses Neebee, hailed the legacy projects describing them as historic landmarks on the school’s landscape.

According to him, the Entrepreneurship Centre and other projects were major developments on  the campus in nearly two decades.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has unveiled the reconstructed  Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, a major transport corridor linking communities across the Asari-Toru, Degema, and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas of the State.

The project, a 19.79 kilometre road was executed by Julius Berger Nigeria  PLC,  brings to an end the nightmares of man-hour losses and insecurity associated with the route.

The long stretch of the road was in a very deplorable condition before the Fubara administration awarded the contract for its rehabilitation in September 2024.

Fubara disclosed that the completion of the project in record time was a fulfillment of a personal commitment made after witnessing the  severe degradation of the road during a previous visit to the area.

“It is a road that you must pass if you’re going to Abonnema. It is a road that because of its state, a lot of evil activities was taking place there. But to the glory of God today, I don’t think those negative acts can even be imagined or be carried out along that corridor again.

“I made a promise to myself that day that even if it is remaining one week, we must make sure that we fix this road. Today, to the glory of God, the road has been fixed.

“I am happy that today, we are all here gathered happily that this particular dream has come to reality,” he said.

The governor reiterated that his desire for the State is not just about embarking on projects but in doing those things that  will touch the lives of the  people positively.

He reaffirmed  the  commitment of his administration to complete the Trans-Kalabari Highway, another major road project linking several coastal communities in the State.

He expressed appreciation to the people for their love and cooperation especially for allowing the contractors to do their jobs without hitches.

“You have shown me so much love. Nobody can take that away. One particular project that cannot be denied is the Trans- Kalabari Road that we are doing. I want to beg you that if I cannot meet all you requests today, don’t  worry, my successor will continue from where I will stop,” he said.

Special Guest of Honour, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema Kingdom, King Desrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, who officially  commissioned the project,  commended the state government for its rapid infrastructure development, noted that the rehabilitation of the roa has drastically improved travel time, safety and the living conditions of the people.

“In the past, for you to leave any of our communities to Port Harcourt, you must, as a matter of fact, go into a one-day fasting and prayers the previous day. Otherwise, you are not sure you will get to your destination.

“Today, I can leave my palace in Abonnema by 10:00 AM, and I will be wherever I want to be in Port Harcourt before 11:00 AM,” the royal father said.

King Bob-Manuel stated that the reconstructed  road would not only enable the local fishermen to transport their catch directly to urban markets in Port Harcourt for better profit margins, but will open the  riverine communities to new investments.

The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of a Yenagoa-based tabloid, Niger Delta Herald, Mr. Francis Dufugha, has commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for the relative peace in the State.
Dufugha, however, expressed resentment over what he described as stringent measures against assessing the State’s Students Loan Scheme, especially for the common citizens.
He made the observations while briefing journalists at the Earliest Ikoli Press Centre, Ekeki, in Yenagoa, the State capital.
“I commend the Governor for the relative peace in the state owing to his approach to the security of lives and properties in the State.
“For now, the police in Bayelsa State is using drones to monitor red flag areas that can cause security breaches and that has really encouraged the peace in the State.
“The security situation has improved and we commend the government for that. We cannot deny the fact that there is relative peace in the State”, he said.
On the State’s students loan, the publisher accused the scheme of having elitist posture due to its accessibility process.
He argued that it would be difficult for the ordinary Bayelsan to provide a Level-17 civil servant as guarantor to be able to benefit from the scheme, describing it as a systemic denial of the less privileged.
He noted that the loan was supposed to be a succour to indigent Bayelsa parents and students who could not assess education easily, noting that such persons should not be made to face cumbersome situations before assessing the financial instrument.
On road infrastructure, the Niger Delta Herald Publisher and Editor-in-chief praised the Diri’s administration on the work done on the three senatorial district roads and tasked the government to do more.
Dufugha, who described Bayelsa State as a wealthy State, asserted that the oil rich state needed to see more developmental strides comparative to its current financial status.
“Bayelsa is not a poor state in terms of public revenue. We’re an oil producing state. We receive federal allocations. We receive derivation revenue. We have access to enormous public resources.
“We receive interventions. Yet, after all these years, the ordinary citizen is still asking, what exactly are we getting for our money? Where are the industries? Where are the jobs? Where are the functional health institutions? Where is the agricultural transformation? Where is the human capital development? Where is the economic diversification?,” he argued.
He enjoined the government to redouble effort in the education and health subsectors, adding that it would pay the state a lot if there were centres for the treatment of critical health cases such as cancer and others in order to save lives and avoid capital flight.
The Publisher urged the Senator Diri-led government and the public not to misunderstand his message as hatred or personal issues with the Governor, but see it as a constitutional and professional duty to hold government accountable.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa