Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has called on the Federal Government to give more priority to Technical Education and Vocational Training to ensure that the scourge of unemployment is tackled headlong.
Governor Ikpeazu who made the call
when he received in audience the team of the National Board for Technical Education at Government House, Umuahia,described technical and vocational education as key to job creation in the country.
He said; “I wish that the Federal Government would realize the importance of vocational and Technical education in tackling the scourge of unemployment.
“If we don’t do anything to ensure that our children use their hands, we will run into problems”.
Governor Ikpeazu said that Abia state is focused on technical and vocational education as one of the pillars of his administration to create programmes that will help the youths impact directly on the state’s socio economic development.
The Governor while noting that the world recognizes Abia artisans for their ingenuity and creativity, pointed out
that the state government in its bid to formalize technical and Vocational education exported Abia youths abroad where they have been offered opportunities to work and do businesses.
He therefore called for the support of the board in the accreditation of Technical and Vocational courses in institution of learning and urged all major stakeholders, regulatory agencies as well as government to partner and provide platforms that would enable the youths express and take pride in their skills.
The Governor reiterated his commitment to encourage the Abia State Polytechnic revealing that the institution is at the jugular of his administration’s efforts to formalize technical education.
The Acting Director, Polytechnic Programmes, National Board for Technical Education, Arc. Mgbede Ogoh said the team was in the State for the accreditation of some programmes at the Abia State Polytechnic Aba, as well as resource inspection to give approval for the commencement of new programmes at the institution.
Ogoh, while appreciating the efforts of Governor Ikpeazu in dealing with the teething problems of the institution, called on him to do more to ensure that technical education and vocational training as represented by the Polytechnic is put on a higher pedestal which he said will create more jobs for the youths and turn around the economy of the state and country in general.
The team was led by the Chairman, Governing Board, Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Elder John Nwangborogu and the Acting Rector of the Institution, Mr. Okore Osonwa.
