Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has said it is no longer sufficient for our educational institutions to produce mere degree holders without problem-solving skills.
He said Nigeria’s education institutions must produce solution providers and individuals armed with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation and catalyse development.
Abbas stated this on Thursday at a public hearing on three bills organized by the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education.
He said “In an era characterised by global competitiveness and rapid technological evolution, it is no longer sufficient for our educational institutions to produce mere degree holders without problem-solving skills; they must produce solution providers, individuals armed with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation and catalyse development.
“These include the Bill for the establishment of the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, as well as two separate Bills proposing amendments to the Federal Polytechnics Act, CAP. F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
He said the bills “Seek to democratise access to quality education in science, vocational training, creative arts, entrepreneurship, and business development. The vision they advance is that of a society where education is not merely an academic pursuit but a vital engine for economic revitalisation, upward mobility, and sustained national advancement”.
In his welcome address, chairman of the committee, Fuad Laguda said that it can be collectively agreed that Nigerians can acquire knowledge and skills in social sciences, art, humanities, technology, science, entrepreneurship, vocational and technical education with the passage of the bills.
He said “The first bill seeks to establish a Federal College that will promote entrepreneurship studies and empower Nigerians and Borno people with modern skills to become employable, create jobs and excel in future.
“The second bill is concerned with amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act in order to improve the operations, efficiency and effectiveness of Polytechnics across Nigeria.
“The third bill is focused [on] strategic enhancement of statutory functions of Polytechnics in Nigeria to empower them to offer hybrid courses to Nigerians [to] acquire both National Diploma (ND) and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)”.
In his remarks, the sponsor of the bill for an act to establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship and skill Acquisition Hawul Borno state, Usman Balami said the alarming number of unemployed youth calls for immediate action to address these critical gaps in our community.
He said the establishment of a Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition in Hawul LGA is a vital step toward fostering economic development and creating job opportunities in the region.
This institution will provide comprehensive training programs designed to equip individuals with a diverse range of skills essential for self-employment and economic independence.
