By Omoruyi Patricia Osayomore
As part of efforts to encourage the youths in Technical Vocation Education Training, Edo State Government has assured that employees that went through TVET training will be granted special staff portfolios and be entitled to both retraining and earning on the job.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, expressed optimism that TVET would optimally engage and prepare the youths for gainful ventures which form the aim of every business.
Addressing participants during the 2023 edition of the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Conference in collaboration with the State Ministry of Education, GIZ and other Education stakeholders in the State and across the country, Governor Obaseki said that the thinking on education has to be radically different in the new dispensation which should be youth and students-centred. He submitted that students and youths must be trained in line with the needs of the current dispensation in mind, adding that the essence of TVET is education for survival.
In his words, “the role of government is to create an enabling environment for people to be interested in TVET for the programme to strive in achieving its relevance.” He revealed that his administration is accelerating investment in deepening internet connectivity and power reforms to boost the State’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme in order to make Edo a smart city.
According to him, “Promoting technical education remains a top priority for this administration, and as a government, we believe in execution, not mere utterances. TVET is our new commitment and nothing will stop us as a State from achieving our goal of becoming the number one TVET State in the country.”
The Governor encouraged the private sector to collaborate with the public sector in ensuring that TVET strives remarkably, urging all stakeholders to assist in creating an enabling environment for people to focus on TVET.
Governor Obaseki said, “Because our setting is made up of army of young people who need to be engaged, I have made appeal to the President who has given the State the permission to convert College of Education, Ekiadolor into training for TVET’ teachers in Edo.”
He urged youths to key into skills acquisition like manufacturing, fabrication, electricity, furniture, among others and that the stakeholders should drive the strategies towards its success.
In his lecture, the Head of Project, Skill Development for Youth Employment, Tobias Wolfgarton, explained that the State has proposed TVET and employment promotion strategy and Action plans for the 2023 – 2035 period. The breakdown includes governance of TVET employment and promotion, stakeholders’ collaboration and private sector involvement, management of training and job creation, quality of training, equity and access to training as well as job facilitation services.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, expressed appreciation to sponsors of the Conference, stakeholders as well as to the State Governor for the establishment of 20 technical institutions in Edo, adding that the State Government’s commitment to TVET is not in doubt. She reassured that the glorious future of the youths in the State is certain with thorough implementation of TVET.
The conference which was held at the New Festival Hall, Government House Benin City, had in attendance the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe; World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Adekola Tunde; Head of Project Skill Development for Youth Employment, Tobias Wolfgarton, among other stakeholders.
