By Saminu Ibrahim
The House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education as a means of promoting economic development, youth empowerment and self-reliance in Nigeria.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, stated this while declaring open a one-day public hearing on a Bill seeking to establish the Federal Technical College, Nasarawa Burkullu, in Zamfara State.
Abbas, who was represented at the hearing by Hon. Abubakar Hassan III, said Nigeria had for too long placed disproportionate emphasis on academic certificates at the expense of practical skills.
He noted that the country had continued to produce graduates without jobs and, at the same time, faced a shortage of skilled workers to fill available positions.
According to him, the imbalance was no longer sustainable, as the global economy increasingly rewards skills, competence and problem-solving abilities.
He cited China, Germany and South Korea as examples of countries that had recorded significant economic progress through deliberate investment in technical and vocational education.
The Speaker said the development informed the decision of the 10th House to make skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment legislative priorities.
He said, “The House therefore aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed agenda on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which seeks to reposition our human capital for industrialisation, innovation and self-reliance.”
Abbas said the proposed Federal Technical College, Nasarawa Burkullu, was not merely about establishing another school but about addressing critical skills gaps among young Nigerians.
He said the institution, when established, would equip youths with practical skills in areas including electrical installation, welding, building, solar technology, fabrication and information and communication technology.
The Speaker further linked technical education to efforts to address insecurity, particularly in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
He said prolonged insecurity had disrupted farming, education and economic activities, leaving many young people vulnerable to criminal recruitment.
“When we give them skills, we give them alternatives. We give them a stake in the stability of the nation. Technical education is therefore a security strategy, an economic strategy, and a social strategy all in one,” he said.
Abbas urged the Federal Ministry of Education, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), academia, professional bodies and community leaders to make robust contributions towards improving the Bill.
He called for the establishment of an institution that would be relevant, sustainable and impactful when the proposed legislation becomes law.
“Let us build a Nigeria where a child who chooses technical education is not seen as one who has failed, but as one who has chosen to build, to create, to invent and to prosper,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Alternative Education, Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu Almustapha, said the changing global economy had increased demand for skilled labour across various sectors.
He said the development underscored the need for stronger technical education in Nigeria, particularly against the backdrop of unemployment and underemployment.
The sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Abubakar Sulaiman Gummi, said the proposed college was founded on the premise that Nigeria could not achieve industrial development without deliberate investment in technical and vocational education.
Gummi said there was also a compelling case for equity and balanced distribution of federal technical institutions across the country.
According to him, the North-West has a population of more than 50 million people, while Zamfara remains the only state in the zone without a Federal Science and Technical College.
He said the case for the institution was further strengthened by the security challenges and displacement that had deprived many young people in Zamfara of education and livelihoods.
“We need interventions that go beyond conventional education. Technical education provides practical, marketable skills that lead to legitimate employment and entrepreneurship, restore economic resilience, and reduce vulnerability to criminal recruitment,” he said.
Also speaking, Engineer Kasimu Abdullahi Burkullu said the establishment of the college would help reduce youth unemployment and promote self-reliance.
He said the institution would expand access to technical education in Zamfara and the North-West, address disparities in the distribution of Federal Technical Colleges, and equip young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
Burkullu urged the committee to expedite consideration and passage of the Bill, citing the need for sustainable development in the area amid persistent security challenges caused by attacks by insurgents in Zamfara State.
