Technical Education Key To Lifting Nigeria Out of Poverty – NBTE Boss

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, has emphasised that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) represents Nigeria’s most viable pathway out of poverty.

Bugaje made this known while speaking during the opening of a two-day capacity-building programme for TVET stakeholders in Kano under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III) project (2023–2027), organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) with support from the Korean government.

Prof. Bugaji, represented by his technical assistant, Dr Babangida Ali-baba,   underscored the critical role of technical education in national economic development.

“The only way that we can lead our country out of poverty is by ensuring that education is given what it deserves in the economic centre of education,” the NBTE boss stated, highlighting the administration’s commitment to skills-based learning initiatives.

He added that NBTE has been at the forefront of digitising the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and strengthening quality assurance processes across the nation’s technical institutions – making it easier for institutions to comply with global standards.

In his welcome address, the Head of the Abuja Office and UNESCO’s Representative to Nigeria, Mr Mendy Albert, represented by Mr Manish Joshi, said the programme builds on a 10-week online course completed in July, designed to enhance participants’ capacity to modernise vocational education.

He said TVET is a significant catalyst for equipping young people with the right skills, creating sustainable pathways for self-employment, and driving socio-economic development.

In her remarks, the Director of Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Muhibat Adeleke Olodo, reported that more than one million people have enrolled under a new TVET framework, with federal technical colleges welcoming 15,000 students this month.

She explained that the reforms aim to expand access, align curricula with labour market needs, and boost employability among young people.