What can be done to reduced unemployment – Minister

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, says technical education is key to stemming the high unemployment rate in the country.
Adamu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Dr Masa’udu Kazaure, said this on Wednesday at the 15th combined convocation of the Federal Polytechnic Bida.
He said the country needed graduates of Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions more, due to the role they play in the private sector, which was the main driver of the economy.
The minister noted that he had recently commenced Nigeria’s skills qualifications framework aimed at the provision of quality products and services.
Adamu said: “This will help in providing trained workforce for export as well as increase access to TVET and reduce unemployment and youth restiveness.
“The overall effects will improve Nigeria’s economy through well trained workforce.
“We are determined to make sure young people get the skills they need to get a good job.’’
He said he had directed NBTE to bring out more innovative approaches for delivering work based learning and apprenticeships.
He said: “You should explore the driving factors behind successes in apprenticeship provision and analyse common challenges and approaches that can inform Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“I will encourage you to look at how apprenticeship standards and frameworks are set globally to meet the needs of employers and employees.’’
Earlier in his remarks, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, said the convocation was for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions, with a total of 10, 401 graduands.
Dzukogi said: “At this convocation, a total number of 186 graduands graduated with distinction, 1,477 with Upper Credit, 3,800 with Lower Credit and 1,532 at pass levels for ND programmes.
“While at HND level, 91 are graduating with distinction, 954 with Upper Credit, 2,058 with Lower Credit and 303 at pass level.’’
The Rector noted that the polytechnic had moved from 23 ND and 35 HND programmes in five schools to 57 programmes in 31 academic departments in seven schools since he came on board in 2015.
He said the polytechnic came first in project fabrication/construction category in the last National Board for Technical Education exhibition held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that three Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in different areas of human endeavor were conferred with the Fellowship Award of the Polytechnic.
The individuals are: Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, APC National Chairman, John Oyegun and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
Other highlights of the event was the foundation laying of the proposed School of Agricultural Technology named after Bello.