FG Pledges Support For Skills-based Education

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to advancing technical and vocational education in Nigeria, emphasising the need to prioritise skills over paper qualifications.

The Minister stated this during a courtesy visit by the executive secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Professor Idris Mohammed Bugaje and executives of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, led by its Chairperson, Hajiya Fatima Haliru, in Abuja.

The Minister described the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) as a game-changer for professionals who acquired competencies through hands-on experience but lacked formal certification.

“The message is clear: skills, not just degrees, will define the future of our workforce. Many of our young people are already talented in photography, cinematography, and digital services.

This framework gives them the recognition they deserve, opening pathways for higher training, employment, and entrepreneurship,” said Idris.

The Minister further pledged to work closely with the NBTE and the Council to ensure standardisation and certification of skills within the creative sector, noting that this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He assured the federal Ministry of Information that it would fully collaborate with stakeholders across the broadcast, advertising, and information sectors to raise professional standards, unlock economic opportunities, and empower Nigeria’s youth.

In response, the delegation, led by the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Mohammed Bugaye and the Chairperson of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, Hajiya Fatimah Halliru, commended the Ministry of Information for championing the Renewed Hope Agenda and repositioning the information sector.

Professor Bugaje explained that the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, established just seven months ago as the 20th in Nigeria, has already developed 24 new qualifications in audio production, content creation, and photography.

He emphasised the importance of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme, which he said is intended to certify informally trained professionals, such as media and broadcasting apprentices, 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.”