The Federal Government has commenced the process of galvanising support from the private sector on the need to integrate practical skills into formal education in the country.
This is aimed at addressing the challenge of the skilled gap and tackling the perennial problem of unemployment and the employability of graduates in the country.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, where discussions were held on how to integrate practical skills into formal education.
Mamman, at the meeting, revealed a landmark collaborative effort aimed at advancing skills development, and bridging the gap between the education sector and industries. He noted that the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), underscored the importance of public-private cooperation in driving innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth.
He spoke on the pivotal role of the private sector in Nigeria’s educational landscape, urging private universities to offer distinct programmes to complement public institutions.
The minister lauded the initiative of the ACCI, which aligns with the goals of providing practical skills and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Agreement for economic growth.
On his part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, emphasised the significance of securing funds from both public and private sources to support research, particularly in combating societal challenges, such as COVID-19 and improving economic activities.
He also stressed the need for local utilisation of research findings and products to enhance industrial growth, urging increased uptake of locally produced solutions.
President of the ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, expressed the chamber’s commitment towards enhancing skills training and entrepreneurship through collaboration with the government. He proposed a partnership with the Ministry of Education to promote innovation and investment in educational infrastructure, citing the establishment of ACCI Continental University, dedicated to advancing the goals of the African Free Trade Agreement.
Former president of ACCI, Adetokunbo Kayode, also harped on the importance of mainstreaming skills development into the regular university curriculum to create a globally competitive workforce.
He said there was the need for collaboration between the government and private sector, to implement policies supporting skills training and entrepreneurship, particularly for young Nigerians.
Director of ACCI BEST Centre, Dr Atinuke Temitope, restated the centre’s commitment to gender and disability inclusion in technical and vocational education and called for further support to expand these initiatives.
