By Gabriella Ogbu
In order to enable youth to take an active role in the nation’s economic development, the federal government has promised to make sure that curricula and training programs precisely match the skills needed by industry.
Tuesday in Abuja, during the pre-validation meeting of stakeholders on the National Policy on Skills Development in Nigeria, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, stated as much.
Concerning the skills gap in the nation, he said that creating a comprehensive national policy on skills development is a critical first step toward giving Nigerian youth the tools they need to succeed in the jobs of the twenty-first century.
The ability to adapt, innovate, and make a meaningful contribution to the workforce has become increasingly important in a rapidly changing global landscape, he claims, which is why collective efforts have culminated in the creation of “this important policy.”
Mamman continued, saying that the government would create a new curriculum through the National Policy on Skills Development in order to close the gap between the demands of the labor market and the educational system.
We can enable our youth to actively participate in the economic growth and development of our dear nation by matching our educational curricula and training programs with the skills demanded by industry.
“I implore you to approach this discussion with a renewed sense of purpose and a strong commitment to creating a future where our youth are empowered to realize their full potential as we come together for this pre-validation meeting. Your knowledge, perceptions, and combined experience will be invaluable in improving and fortifying this policy, guaranteeing that it functions as a solid foundation for skill development throughout Nigeria,” the speaker stated.
Prior to this, millions of Nigerian youth could have their lives completely changed by the policy, according to Permanent Secretary Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who was speaking on behalf of the Ministry’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Abubakar Isa. This could happen in the formal, non-formal, and informal sectors of education.
“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Federal Ministry of Education, and UNICEF have worked tirelessly to develop a comprehensive framework that addresses the diverse needs of our learners, from foundational to transferable, digital, and job-specific skills,” he said, praising the draft policy before them as a testament to their joint efforts.
