Some experts have described Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as panacea to the social, political and economic challenges of any human society.
They made the call during the 6th Annual Conference of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, with the theme: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): A Panacea To Electoral Malpractice In Nigeria, held last Thursday in Port Harcourt.
Speaking, the Keynote speaker, a Professor in the Department of Industrial Technical Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Prof. Vincent Eze Onweh, stressed that one thing that can never be taken away from TVET is its high disposition to surmounting societal challenges be it political, economic social and technological, among others.
There is a growing consensus among developing nations on the need to repositioning TVET as a strategic tool for curbing most societal ills, saying: “The reason for this is not far-fetched as TVET remains harbinger of education that primarily provides a clear pathway  for addressing societal challenges.”
Onweh stressed on the legalisation of the use of technology, noting that it is a critical component of TVET into Nigeria’s Electoral system as contained in relevant sectios of the electoral Act, 2022 which many received as a welcome development.
“There is a somewhat wider perspective that the use of technology could reduce the level of electoral malpractices in Nigeria. The conceptualisation, design and implentation of all technologies in the conduct of elections are product display of TVET knowledge and skills no doubt.”
The Professor as way forward, recommended that TVET practitioners collaborate with relevant stakeholders in developing training contents and scope on the new technologies introduced in Nigeria’s new electoral Act 2022..
He further recommended that electorates should form a group within their constituencies and consistently demand that their representatives empower them through TVET, so as to make them more self reliance, among others.
Speaking also, the lead lecturer, a Professor in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Science University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ebiokpo Amakoromo said the topic was apt having observed that elections in Nigeria have been fraught with various forms of malpractic, sometimes leading to loss of life.
“During election period many politicians recruits youths, electoral officials, society personnel among others to manipulate election results in their favour, but the conference topic seeks to divert their attention from being idle.
She called on parents to give their children the needed quality training they deserved from childhood, while also charging government and we’ll meaning individuals to encourage people offering TVET by putting all the equipment needed in place to boost manpower and productivity in TVET.
On his part, the Dean, Faculty Vocational and Technical Education, Prof Isaac Ogundu stated that the annual conference aims at redirecting the minds of the youth to engage more in meaningful ventures, rather than allowed politicians use them to cause electoral Malpractices.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana