From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has said that vocational and technical education is crucial to the technological development of the country.
The chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Faud Laguda, stated this, on Monday, in Abuja, at a public hearing on three bills seeking establishment of three tertiary institutions.
The proposed institutions include
Federal College of Science and Health Technology, Mbu Isiuzo, Enugu State; Federal Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship, Bungudu, Zamfara and Federal Institute of technical and vocational education, Imeko, Ogun State.
Laguda noted that the institutions, if eventually established will help to address “issues of unemployment, wealth creation, poverty reduction and a productive self- reliant society.”
The lawmaker stated that “we cannot, at this juncture of our development, underestimate the importance of science, technology, vocational and technical education as the key drivers of our socio-economic development.
“We therefore, need to prioritize and recognize the importance of science and health technology in driving economic growth, improving healthy living standard as well as addressing societal challenges.
“In today’s global economy, you would agree with me that, skills in vocational and technical education is the panacea to Nigeria’s technological development.
“The effective training on science, technology, engineering and mathematics are the skills needed by our teaming youths to excel in the technologically driven global economy.”