The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Adegboyega Isiaka, is advocating for an increase in the budgetary allocation to education, pushing for a minimum of 15 percent. Additionally, he calls for a specific elevation in the sub-allocation to technical education, emphasizing that it should not be less than 30 percent of the overall education allocation.
Isiaka, speaking at the committee’s inauguration in Abuja, underscores the importance of these budgetary adjustments alongside necessary systemic and attitudinal changes. He believes that such measures are crucial for positioning the country on a trajectory of national growth and global competitiveness, especially in the evolving 21st-century skills market.
Expressing urgency in transitioning young people from education to employment, Isiaka highlights the necessity for a revamped education-to-employment system. He suggests that this transformation requires new incentives and structural adjustments, emphasizing a shift in focus toward preparing students for future job opportunities and entrepreneurship.
Addressing the existing disconnect between high levels of youth unemployment and a shortage of job seekers with critical skills, Isiaka proposes utilizing Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) as a cornerstone. He envisions restructuring the education system as a highway where educators, employers, and young people converge on similar paths toward enhanced productivity.
Isiaka notes the significance of the committee’s establishment as a stand-alone entity in the 10th National Assembly, underscoring the current House leadership’s commitment to prioritizing education, particularly technical education, as a catalyst for national development.
Quoting the World Bank’s education strategy outlook, Isiaka emphasizes the importance of acquiring knowledge and skills for growth, development, and poverty reduction. He asserts that technical education plays a vital role in human resource development, producing a skilled workforce that contributes to increased productivity and improved quality of life.
In alignment with Isiaka’s call for increased budgetary allocation to education, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, stresses the integral role of education in achieving significant economic growth. Abbas recommends a focus on technical skills development to address unemployment and its associated challenges, acknowledging the transformative impact of skills in the rapidly evolving world of information and technology.
Furthermore, Abbas asserts that no nation can overlook the crucial role of education in enhancing the productive capacity of its citizens, making investment in education a pivotal element of every strategic government agenda. He concludes by highlighting the unique contribution of polytechnics and higher technical education in providing specialized training that empowers students to address the human resource gap in various sectors, including industry, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and vocational and technical studies.