Alausa Inaugurates NBTE Board, Pushes TVET Reforms for Industrial Growth

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into a major driver of industrialisation, job creation and economic growth with the inauguration of the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who inaugurated the board in Abuja, said the move marks another milestone in the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education and human capital development at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

He said the administration was deliberately repositioning the country’s education system to produce skilled graduates capable of driving industrial growth, entrepreneurship and innovation, rather than relying solely on academic qualifications.

Congratulating the chairman and members of the board, Alausa described their appointments as a recognition of their competence, integrity and commitment to national service.

He expressed confidence that the new board would provide the strategic leadership needed to strengthen the NBTE’s regulatory role and accelerate reforms aimed at building a globally competitive workforce.

The minister stressed that technical and vocational education had become a national priority, noting that no country could achieve meaningful industrialisation without a strong pool of technicians, technologists, artisans, machine operators and other skilled professionals.

According to him, the Federal Government has increased investments in the sector to bridge the gap between education and industry while equipping learners with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

“Technical and Vocational Education and Training is no longer an alternative pathway to university education. It is a strategic national priority for industrialisation, innovation and economic competitiveness,” Alausa said.

The minister outlined four key priorities for the new board, beginning with the provision of strategic leadership and effective oversight while allowing the NBTE management to handle its day-to-day operations.

He also tasked the board 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 under the National Skills Qualification Framework.

According to him, the initiative will improve employability, expand access to finance and government contracts, and enhance labour mobility across the ECOWAS region.

On curriculum reform, Alausa directed the board to modernise technical education programmes through Outcome-Based Education, integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, advanced manufacturing systems and green technologies to meet the demands of Industry 4.0.

He further urged polytechnics to strengthen programmes in engineering, applied sciences, technology and innovation while gradually phasing out non-technical courses that fall outside their statutory mandate.

The minister also emphasised the need for transparency and prudent management of public resources, insisting that intervention funds, research projects and institutional investments must translate into measurable improvements in skills acquisition, youth employment and national productivity.

Responding on behalf of the board, Chairman, Prof. Babatunde L. Salako, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister of Education for the confidence reposed in the members.

He described the inauguration as the beginning of a new era for technical education and pledged the board’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s TVET reforms.

“We will work diligently to expand opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical skills, promote innovation and nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs and job creators,” Salako said.

He also identified changing public perception of technical education as one of the board’s immediate priorities, saying TVET should no longer be viewed as a second-choice option but as a respected pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.

In his vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, described the inauguration as a landmark development, noting that the board was being constituted after more than five years without one.

Bugaje commended the minister for what he described as his decisive leadership in repositioning technical education and pledged the agency’s support for the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s TVET transformation agenda.

Formally inaugurating the board on behalf of President Tinubu, Alausa urged members to see their appointments as a call to national service.

He said the future of Nigeria’s technical education system and a significant part of the country’s economic competitiveness would depend on the vision, commitment and leadership of the board.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to strengthen TVET as a catalyst for industrialisation, innovation and sustainable economic growth, adding that the Ministry of Education would continue working closely with the board to expand access to quality skills training and build a workforce equipped for the demands of a modern economy.