Education
Technical Education: The Way Forward
Technical and Vocational Education as seen in the National Policy on Education (2004), has been defined as those involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences and the acquisition of practical skills, attitudes, understanding and knowledge relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life. Therefore, technical and vocational education is based on: Providing trained manpower in applied science, technology and business particularly at craft, advanced craft and technical levels.
Providing the technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for agricultural, commercial and economic development.
Giving training and impart the necessary skills to individuals who shall be self-reliant, economically. (NPE, 2004).
From the outlined objectives, can we say that they are implementable in our TVET institution? The policy issues have been documented, but how many of these, have been given its place in the Nigerian TVET institutions? What this synopsis seeks to examine is the place of Technical, Vocational Education and Training in the Nigerian TVET institutions.
An overview of TVET in the Nigeria institutions reveals that, TVET is still at the state of theoretical, but not practical. TVET institutions emerged with the purpose of training the young minds, but end up not achieving their purpose; for instance, the government is aware that only limited facilities exist in the Technical Colleges and Universities yet, neither comment nor action is made to achieve the goal of TVET stated by them. Most academic institutions suffer so many set-backs in terms of infrastructure like inadequate accommodation for learning, lack of post-graduate classrooms or lecture theatre, lack of functional facilities for learning, etc in terms of manpower, there are limited staff in the institutions, at times they end-up not being processional; the graduate-assistants are used more than required, just to meet-up with the demands of job in these institutions. Though the knowledge is exploding, but the equipment to practice with becomes a challenge.
Another challenge here is that the mind-set of parents and the community at large is very negative towards TVET, because of lack of adequate orientation and public enlightenment of what TVET entails in the society. The society believes that such occupations as medical, law, engineering and other big-named occupations, place people on better occupational opportunities than the vocational occupations. Because of this, TVET is looked down at, and indeed it is an obstacle to improve the social statusquo of TVET. This being the case, Osinem (2006) opined that the challenges are to create vocational programmes that deliver professionally successful graduates.
However, TVET institutions should take it as pride to show-case TVET to the society and its value. In the western world, TVET graduates are queued for, to be employed, because the society knows their value. Let the institutions, role out this enlightenment and see if they will not have more boost than ever imagined.
The concept of Vocational Training differs from technical, vocational education and training. Vocational training involves the informal development of practical skills, knowledge and altitudes by imitation, observation or incidental participation under a master or graduate unlike the TVET, Vocational Training is not systematically organised, but geared towards informal skill acquisition which is not our focus.
From the foregoing, it is pertinent to understand absolutely the following roles of TVET in national development if properly placed in the TVET institutions.
TVET is highly instrumental to a buoyant modern economy, by way of rapid growth development, skilled personnel in agriculture, construction, commerce and others.
TVET can meet the manpower needs of Nigeria by planning and providing programmes which result in satisfied employee and employer in those needed occupation, thereby fulfilling its economic role in the nation. TVET fosters creativity in students. TVET a is form of Education which emphasises the development of occupational skills needed as preparation for work.
Therefore, the TVET institutions should be adequately taken care of by funding the TVET centres, employ more professional staff, rehabilitate and provide more facilities (equipment/personnel) for learning, organise and sensitise the masses on the importance of TVET including its vocational opportunities opened to its graduates after school and so on. By doing these, I believe that TVET shall have a best place or place value in our TVET institutions, and they shall do better than expected in our society.
Ajie wrote in from Port Harcourt.
Godstime Uche Ajie
The 11th Global President of the Rivers state University Alumni Association (RSUAA), Dr. Marry- Ann Perekebina has praised the Obarijima Waite’s led Postgraduate Students Association(PGA), describing his tenure as ” visionary, transparent and worthy of emulation.
Dr. Perekebina , who spoke with journalists at the sideline of the commissioning of projects embarked by Obarijima Waite’s administration in Port Harcourt, eulogises him for leading a purposeful administration – characterised with team work, love and result.
She maintained, that Obarijima Waite’s have led a purposeful administration that touches on cole values expected of any leader,adding that he has embarked on several projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of PGA students who will make use of the facilities.
“I think it’s worthy of emulation and recognition and he deserves all the accolades. He is a transformational leader who believes in carrying everyone along.” she said.
Also speaking at the sideline, a Postgraduate student of Law and Diplomacy, Edward Olaka, equally lauded the President of PGA, Obarijima Waite, for his visionary and outstanding leadership style, and describing him as “a Square peg in a Square hole”
According to him, the performance of the incumbent President and his team will throw a huge challenge to his successor’s, stressing that their administration will be used as a yardstick to measure whoever that would be coming after them, describing his performance as a commitment and testimony to hard-work built on the fear God.
” This is the handiwork of God, because it is said that when the righteous rules, the people rejoice.”
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is set to establish a Driving Training Centre at the University of Port Harcourt, to be domiciled at the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies, NEMA House.
A team from the FRSC National Headquarters visited the University on Friday, September 12, 2025, to inspect proposed facilities in line with the Driving School Standardization Programme (DSSP) mandatory requirements.
Speaking at the end of the inspection, Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, represented by the Head of Driving School, Mr. Sunday Attah, expressed satisfaction with the standard of facilities available at the institution. He commended the University for its readiness to host the pilot scheme, noting that the Centre will be replicated in other parts of the country in due course.
Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the University Management, the Corps Marshal explained that UniPort was selected to host the pilot project because of its strategic importance to the nation.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Chukwudi Onyeaso, welcomed the initiative and assured that the University remains open to partnerships that will promote academic excellence and national development.
A scholar and the 119 Inaugural lecturer at the Rivers state University, Prof.Chukwu Sancho Nwobuisi has called on political leaders across the world and Nigeria in particular to be transparent, accountable and lead with the fear of God, bearing in mind that when we depart the earth, we shall take home nothing, except the spirit who shall return back to the maker to give account of how we lived our lives.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after delivering his inaugural lecture on Wednesday in port Harcourt with the topic: ” War and The Dynamics of Ehianomics Economy The Nigerian Experience Who Are The Losers”, called on political leaders and those at the position of trust to think outside the box if they truly want the Nigeria to be great again.
He explained that the topic of the lecture basically is about social ills and how to correct the false narrative affects the system, while maintaining that the system has worsen to the point that the future of our younger generation now in dire danger, due to unemployment ,poor infrastructure,poor healthcare and everyone looking for a means to see ends meet.
The Frontline scholar,regretted that agriculture that used to be the economy main stay of the country is now downgraded due to over dependent on oil revenue, hence the unfortunate social and political crisis found daily in our communities.
” The study looks at the effect, influence and what affects the economy of the nation and how our mindset can change from over dependent on oil”
Prof. Nwobuisi, who didn’t mince words about corruption, maintained that corruption remains a serious challenge that the government needs to mitigate by the institutions saddled with the responsibility to pull the nation out of the menace.
” The way forward is that the nation’s anti-graft agencies must be strengthen to look around us especially on the invasion by the so called Yahoo boys.” Prof. Chukwu said.
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