The Nigerian government is taking deliberate steps to devalue paper qualifications and prioritize practical skills acquisition through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), according to Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
Speaking to reporters in Minna after supervising an entrance examination for about 30,000 students into technical colleges nationwide, Mohammed emphasized that TVET would transform Nigeria's economic landscape for the better.
"We will do our best to engage major stakeholders to improve and ensure that there will be enough participation in the TVET exercise because the country is taking a new different dimension," Mohammed stated. "The dimension the country is taking now, we are going to devalue paper qualification and focus on what you can do to earn a living."
COVID-19 Pandemic Highlighted Need for Skills
The NABTEB Registrar pointed to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point that revealed the limitations of depending solely on white-collar employment. He stressed that Nigerians need to develop practical skills that would enable them to establish their own businesses rather than waiting for government jobs.
"Upon graduation, I don't need to wait for the government to offer me a job. I should be able to establish something on my own to do," he emphasized.
Global Success Stories Through TVET
Mohammed cited several countries that have successfully leveraged technical and vocational education to drive economic growth, including China, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
"Let me tell you, Singapore is in a desert. Dubai is in a desert. But they are surviving because of the TVET program," he said. "Then Nigeria, if we encourage TVET, we will enjoy it more better than any other country in the world."
Bridging Nigeria's Skills Gap
According to Mohammed, the major gap in Nigeria's education system is the lack of practical skills among graduates. He argued that academic qualifications without practical value are essentially worthless.
"The gap is that the government should pay more emphasis on technical and vocational education because even though you have your PhD, you have your master's, you are a professor, and you cannot add value, that qualification is a waste," he explained.
He highlighted that through vocational and technical education, Nigerians should be able to repair vehicles, create furniture, handle construction finishing like POP and tiling, and develop various other practical skills.
"The gap is huge, and the government is bringing these young people into technical colleges to bridge the gap," Mohammed added.
Indonesia's Model as an Example
The NABTEB boss also shared his experience with Indonesia's approach to skills development, where graduates undergo mandatory one-year skill training regardless of their academic background.
"In Indonesia, there is this one-year program for the way we are doing NYSC in Nigeria. Their own one year, whether you read law, whether you did business admin, you must go for one-year skill training. Irrespective of your background, you must go for this training," he noted.
The entrance examination supervised by Mohammed took place at Government Technical College, Government Day Science College, and Police Secondary School in Minna, Niger State.
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