The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to pursue technical education for self-employment rather than relying on government jobs. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, emphasized the importance of technical skills in the modern world. He also urged parents to encourage their children to embrace technical education. Adejo made these remarks during his visit to monitor the ongoing National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) in Abuja.
Adejo expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the examination but revealed that some registered students in certain states were unable to write the exam due to non-payment by their state governments. He did not disclose the specific states or the amount owed. Adejo called on state governors to fulfill their financial obligations to examination bodies, highlighting the significance of timely payment to facilitate the smooth running of exams.
The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for a paradigm shift in education, emphasizing that technical skills and entrepreneurship play a vital role in shaping the future workforce. He cited the growing focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in tertiary institutions as evidence of this shift. Adejo called on state governments to support their citizens by paying the necessary fees to examination bodies, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
The monitoring exercise conducted by the Federal Ministry of Education aimed to assess the physical aspects of the examination process, including question paper integrity, student identification, and examination hall conditions. Despite a slight delay in the exam start time due to unfavorable weather conditions, Adejo expressed satisfaction with the overall progress and commended the efforts made to maintain the integrity of the examination.
Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, the Registrar of the National Board for Technical Education, also highlighted the issue of non-payment by state governments, leading to the exclusion of some registered candidates from the examination. She expressed concern over the accumulating debts owed by several states.
Efforts are being made to address these financial challenges and ensure that all students have equal access to quality technical education.
