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Skills Development: Rivers State Promotes Technical Education

by admin on | 2026-08-20 11:32:55

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Skills Development: Rivers State Promotes Technical Education 

By Maryam Muhammad

The Rivers State Government South-South Nigeria, has called for a strategic shift towards Vocational and Technical Education, VTE, in Nigeria’s educational curriculum.

The governor of Rivers State in South-South Nigeria, Siminalayi Fubara, made the call while commissioning three major infrastructure projects at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

Fubara said that the emphasis on paper qualifications at the expense of technical expertise and practical skills was contributing to unemployment and economic stagnation in the country.

He said that Nigeria must deliberately realign its educational curriculum with practical skills to prepare young people for self-employment, job creation and the challenges of the 21st century.

Fubara recalled that the 6-3-3-4 education system introduced in the 1980s was designed to expose students to vocational and technical training, enabling them to acquire skills before proceeding to polytechnics or universities.

He lamented that the country has gradually deviated from the vision, with many young people now focused on obtaining certificates and degrees without acquiring skills relevant to the modern labour market.

Fubara stated, "The polytechnic system was designed in such a way that if you are gifted with your hands; if you are a technical person, you can go there and learn more, build your skills so that you can add value to our society."

The governor explained that the entrepreneurship centre at the polytechnic was established to groom young people with relevant skills and prepare them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers after graduation.

He stressed that his administration was focused on executing projects that would directly impact lives and address societal challenges, noting that technology had become central to modern development.

Fubara also urged the school's authority, students and host community to protect the new facilities from theft and vandalism, while encouraging residents of Obio-Akpor to embrace peace and political stability.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Peter Nwagor, said the projects included two one-storey buildings for the School of Engineering and Entrepreneurship Centre, while the polytechnic’s rector, Dr Moses Neebee, described the facilities as historic landmarks and major developments on the campus in nearly two decades.