The Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Dr. Mohamed Aminu Mohamed, has called for a national reawakening on the importance of vocational and technical education.
He stated that the future of Nigeria lies not in paper qualifications but in practical skills that can drive economic self-reliance and industrial growth.
Speaking after a monitoring tour to some schools writing the 2025 NABTEB examinations across Minna, Mohamed noted that Nigeria is at a turning point where traditional white-collar jobs can no longer absorb the growing population of graduates.
He emphasised the urgent need for young Nigerians to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a sustainable path to employment and innovation.
The Registrar noted that the awareness of the importance of TVET has not been made known to people, as only 135 people had registered for the TVET as of Tuesday last week, calling for more registrations.
“There has not been enough enlightenment on the importance of TVET in many states. We are doing our best to engage the major stakeholders in the state to improve and ensure that there will be enough participation in the TVET exercise. We must move away from over-reliance on certificates. What you can do with your hands is now more important than what is written on paper,” he said.
Highlighting the gaps between university graduates and technically skilled workers, the Registrar warned that Nigeria risks building industries without a capable workforce if technical training is not prioritised.
“Even if we establish a thousand factories, we may still face a manpower crisis because we lack the artisans and technicians to keep them running,” he said.
Mohamed cited Indonesia as a successful model where every graduate, regardless of discipline, must undergo a one-year skill acquisition program. “Whether you studied law or business, you must learn a skill. That’s why everyone is productive over there,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development must include technical self-reliance.
Despite past setbacks caused by policy changes that led to the closure of some vocational centres, Mohamed affirmed NABTEB’s commitment to reviving and strengthening technical education, saying there are already federal technical colleges fully focused on hands-on training, with curricula emphasising 90 per cent practical work and only 10 per cent theory.
The Registrar also disclosed that recently, about 30,000 students sat for entrance exams into technical colleges across the country.
“That number is promising. It shows growing interest among the youth. Our goal is to make sure these students can produce something tangible by the end of their training,” he stated.
He also bemoaned the low number of students writing NABTEB examinations in the schools he visited, urging principals in the schools to sensitise the students on the need to take up vocational and technical education.
The Registrar said that the reason for the monitoring is for needs assessment and to look at ways of collaborating with the various schools to improve vocational and technical training for the youth.
Mohammed also expressed optimism about the level of organisation and commitment he witnessed in Minna’s schools, noting that NABTEB is ready to partner with institutions like the Minneapolis College to further expand the reach and impact of TVET programs.
He called on government and policymakers to prioritise vocational and technical education to enable Nigeria to compete globally, if the country must survive economically.
Some of the schools visited by the Registrar include the Government Technical College, Minna, the Government Day Science College, Minna and the Police Secondary School, Minna.
He was accompanied with the Niger state NABTEB Coordinator, the NABTEB Zonal Coordinator and other staff.
Credit: THE NATION
