Paragraph 1: The Importance of Vocational Skills in Nigeria’s Economy
The Ogun State Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, has emphasized the critical role of vocational skills in Nigeria’s economic development. He described vocational training as the “backbone” of the nation’s economy, highlighting its significance in creating jobs and empowering individuals. Onasanya made these remarks at the graduation ceremony of the Peter Akinola Foundation Youth Centre for Industrial Training in Abeokuta. He stressed that with the limited availability of white-collar jobs, vocational training is a vital pathway to self-reliance and wealth creation. This assertion underscores the growing recognition of vocational skills as a key driver of economic growth and individual empowerment in Nigeria.
Paragraph 2: Addressing Unemployment through Vocational Training
Onasanya pointed out the saturation of the civil service and its inability to absorb the vast number of graduates churned out annually by higher institutions. He emphasized the role of vocational training in bridging this employment gap, offering young people the opportunity to become job creators rather than perpetually seeking scarce white-collar jobs. This focus on entrepreneurship and self-reliance aligns with the global trend of promoting vocational training as a means to address unemployment and empower individuals to create their own economic opportunities.
Paragraph 3: Ogun State’s Commitment to Vocational Education
Onasanya commended the Peter Akinola Foundation for its contribution to standardizing vocational and technical education, equipping Nigerian youths with the necessary skills to boost the economy. He reiterated the Ogun State Government’s unwavering commitment to vocational education as a tool for individual empowerment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth. This highlights the state’s proactive approach to promoting vocational training and integrating it into its development agenda. The government’s commitment signals a move towards a more balanced educational system that values both academic and practical skills.
Paragraph 4: Celebrating Achievement and Empowering Future Generations
The graduation ceremony was described not merely as a formality but as recognition of the graduates’ dedication and resilience in acquiring valuable skills for their future. Onasanya highlighted the Ogun State government’s Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) initiative, aimed at enhancing youth employability and fostering entrepreneurship. The 2024 TVET scholarship for 1,000 girls, supported by the World Bank, was cited as a significant step towards empowering young women through vocational learning. This initiative demonstrates a commitment not just to vocational education generally, but to ensuring its accessibility to marginalized groups, contributing to greater gender equality in the workforce.
Paragraph 5: A Collaborative Effort for Skills Development
Onasanya praised Dr. Peter Akinola, the founder of the Peter Akinola Foundation, for his dedication to developing the training center, which provides crucial manpower for various industries. Akinola, in his remarks, explained the centre’s mission to nurture talent and transform young people into professionals and job creators. He emphasized that the training program was designed to address Nigeria’s unemployment challenge and bridge the skills deficit in the workforce. This collaboration between government, private foundations, and international organizations underscores the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to addressing skills development and promoting vocational training.
Paragraph 6: The Broader Impact of Vocational Training and Education
The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the foundation’s approach of “teaching youths how to fish rather than giving them fish,” emphasizing the importance of functional education through vocational training. He highlighted the state government’s upgrade of eight technical colleges, further demonstrating the commitment to practical skills development. Other stakeholders echoed the importance of vocational training for national development, with graduates expressing gratitude for the opportunities afforded them. The event reinforced Ogun State’s proactive stance in promoting vocational and technical education as a powerful tool for youth empowerment, unemployment reduction, and economic growth. This holistic approach, combining infrastructural development, scholarship programs, and public-private partnerships, reinforces the importance of vocational training in achieving sustainable development goals.
