Lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North State Constituency, Hon Bisi Oluranti Micheal has called for allocation of sufficient fund for the execution of programmes relating to technical and vocational education in the state.
She added that the executive arm of government should ensure timely release of allocated fund for prompt execution of projects and provide adequate tools, equipment, machines and materials for the Board of Technical and Vocational Education to ensure quality service delivery.
Apart from funding, Hon Micheal advocated for popularizing technical and vocational education through various advocacy programs, exhibitions and offer scholarship or financial assistance to brilliant indigent students for further studies; approve the establishment of additional vocational centres, one per Local Government Area and providing soft revolving loan to committed trainees in the Vocational Training Centres after the completion of their programs.
The lawmaker while presenting a bill entitled “Need for the Executive arm of Government to boost opportunities in Vocational Education for Students’ Skill Development and to Approve the Construction of Vocational Centres in all the local governments accross the state” maintained that vocational education and training, allows students to gain practical experience in their chosen career path before they even graduate.
“While noting that the Oyo State Government’s attention regarding vocational education is still considerably low. Mrs Michael added that “This, a great deal, is affecting the quality of students being produced by our schools. The number of vocational schools and training centres we have are not adequate to cater for the world’s demand for skilled professionals. Professional plumbers, furniture makers, welders, barbers, tanker drivers, mechanics and many others are the most pard working class in the developed countries today. Countries like United Kingdom, United State of America, Canada and few other European countries are offering free visas for skilled workers in Nigeria and other part of Africa to migrate to their countries with ‘lucrative payment packages.”
The speaker of the House, Hon Debo Ogundoyin while speaking on the bill
noted that with the continuous rise in unemployment amongst the youth, and the high cost of living in Nigeria, Government at all levels must be involved in entrepreneurship development programs for the youths.
He explained that more vocational training programs would help in reducing the crave for white collar jobs among the young Nigerians.
According to the Speaker, as the closest to the grassroots, it is important to involve Local Governments in skills acquisition and capacity building programs for the youth in order to reach as many unemployed young people as possible
” There is the vital need for the involvement of Local Councils in activities and programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting economic empowerment. The nation is experiencing economic problems at the moment, so we need to put in place more skill acquisition programs to enable the youth survive this hard time.”
He stressed the importance of synergy among all tiers of Government in the implementation and coordination of youth development and skills acquisition programs for the youth to achieve the desired results.
” Government should establish more vocational training programme centres in our Local Governments. This will equally reduce crimes amongst the youth.”
