Information Minister Hails NBTE For Creative Media Skills Development

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has applauded the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its tireless efforts in advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, especially forging the Creative Media Sector Skills Council.

The Minister made the remarks at his office in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, and members of the newly inaugurated Creative Media Sector Skills Council.

“I warmly welcome you to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation. I commend the National Board for Technical Education for its tireless efforts in advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, particularly through the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework.

“I am equally delighted by the inauguration of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, which brings together key private sector players and public institutions to address the skills gap in one of the most dynamic sectors of our economy,” said the Minister.

He described the Council as a transparent system that empowers practitioners and enhances the quality of our media output. He added that the creative media sector is brimming with talent but often lacks structured pathways for recognising skills, obtaining certification, and aligning with industry standards.

“For us in the Ministry, the synergy is clear. Well-trained and certified media professionals will raise the standard of our broadcast content, strengthen media literacy, combat misinformation, and positively project Nigeria’s image at home and abroad. Your work directly supports our mandate to ensure the dissemination of credible, ethical, and professional information,” he said.

He assured the NBTE and the Creative Media Sector Skills Council that the Ministry was ready to work closely with them by designing pathways integrating occupational standards for digital services, creative media, photography, cinematography, and more into the mainstream of broadcast and information practice.

He highlighted the initiative’s alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “Skills and technology development are part of the 8 Priority Areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and it is working, going by what the NBTE is implementing, and the efforts of other government agencies.”

The Minister also buttressed that the President Tinubu administration places a high premium on youth development and cited the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which pays tuition fees and stipends to students of tertiary schools in Nigeria, and has positively impacted more than 500,000 students, thereby bringing succour to parents across Nigeria.

According to the Minister, President Tinubu’s vision “is for a Nigeria where the creative and broadcast media workforce is globally competitive, nationally certified, and contributes meaningfully to job creation, economic growth, and national cohesion.”

In his remarks, Professor Bugaje emphasised the importance of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme, which he said is intended to certify informally trained professionals, such as apprentices in media and broadcasting, giving them nationally recognised NSQ certificates.

According to Hajiya Fatima, the Creative Media Sector Skills Council “has over 70% private sector participation, and is aligning with global best practices to ensure industry drives skill development.”