The Federal Government has taken another major step towards repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as the engine of Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth with the inauguration of the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The inauguration, performed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, in Abuja, reinforces the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to building a skilled workforce capable of driving industrial development, innovation and global competitiveness.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Alausa said the Tinubu administration is fundamentally transforming Nigeria’s education system by shifting emphasis from paper qualifications to practical skills that prepare young Nigerians for employment, entrepreneurship and the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.

According to the Minister, technical and vocational education has become a strategic national priority because sustainable industrialisation cannot be achieved without competent technicians, technologists, artisans, engineers, automation specialists and other skilled professionals.

He described the appointments of the Board Chairman and members as a recognition of their integrity, competence and commitment to national service, expressing confidence that they possess the expertise needed to deepen reforms in the technical education sector.

Dr. Alausa charged the Board to provide strategic leadership and policy direction while allowing the NBTE management to oversee the day-to-day administration of the agency. He also tasked members with accelerating the implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund and other stakeholders to formally certify the competencies of skilled artisans across Nigeria.

He explained that the initiative would improve employment opportunities, enhance labour mobility across the ECOWAS region, expand access to government contracts and improve financial inclusion for certified artisans.

The Minister further directed the Board to modernise curricula across technical institutions through Outcome-Based Education, ensuring programmes reflect the realities of Industry 4.0 by integrating artificial intelligence, automation, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.

He also urged polytechnics to strengthen their focus on science, engineering, technology and innovation while gradually phasing out programmes outside their statutory mandate.

On financial management, Dr. Alausa emphasised accountability and transparency, insisting that government investments in technical education must translate into measurable improvements in skills acquisition, institutional performance, youth employment and national productivity.

Responding on behalf of the Governing Board, Chairman Professor Babatunde L. Salako thanked President Tinubu and the Minister for the confidence reposed in the Board.

He described the inauguration as the beginning of a new era for technical education in Nigeria and pledged the Board’s full support for the Federal Government’s TVET reforms.

Professor Salako said one of the Board’s immediate priorities would be changing the public perception that technical education is a second-choice option, stressing that TVET offers viable pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.

He assured the Minister that the Board would work diligently to expand access to quality technical education, promote innovation and equip young Nigerians with relevant skills needed in today’s economy.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of NBTE and Secretary to the Governing Board, Professor Idris M. Bugaje, described the inauguration as historic, noting that the agency had operated for more than five years without a Governing Board.

He commended Dr. Alausa for restoring the Board, describing the development as a demonstration of decisive leadership and renewed commitment to strengthening technical education in Nigeria.

Professor Bugaje assured the Minister that the Board and management would maintain a productive partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education to successfully implement the administration’s ambitious TVET transformation agenda.

Formally inaugurating the Board on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Alausa reminded members that their appointments represented a solemn call to national service and urged them to serve with integrity, wisdom and dedication.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality technical education, strengthening regulatory standards and building a globally competitive workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation.

The Minister maintained that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, TVET will remain central to the administration’s strategy for creating jobs, stimulating entrepreneurship and ensuring shared national prosperity through a highly skilled workforce.