The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has emphasized the importance of Technical and Vocational Education to sustainable development of the nation’s economy.
He stated this recently at the virtual commissioning and handover ceremony of the Technical College Amoli in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu state, which renovated by the Board.
The project includes the renovation and upgrade of five workshop blocks, the administrative block, which consists of the principal’s office, staff room, teachers’ washrooms, toilets and equipping the metal and fabrication workshops.
The Board also constructed the perimeter fence of the school, four toilets and two washrooms for the students and a gate house. The Board also dug a borehole and provided a water storage system and two diesel powered generators.
Engr. Wabote remarked that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act mandates the Board to develop local talents, facilities, and assets supporting oil and gas operations and its linkage sectors, to improve the employability and productivity of youths.
Wabote mentioned that several emerging and developed economies had invested in Vocational and Technical Education and such programmes enabled their youths to contribute to national development across different sectors of their economy, such as construction, oil and gas, agriculture, ICT etc.
He stated that “in realizing the role of vocational and technical education in propelling industrialization, the Board launched the Technical and Vocational Training Center (TVET) Upgrade programme in strategic locations across the country to achieve various aspirations to develop a pipeline of technicians that will drive the socio-economic growth aspirations of the Federal Government at the sub-national level and deploy vocational training as a veritable tool for job creation.”
He assured that the Board is committed to do more, but that would depend on the disposition of the beneficiaries and the sustainability plans put in place.
He thanked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva for approving the NCDMB Vocational Training Centre Development programme and the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the support extended to the Board throughout the execution of the project in the state.
He urged the students to make use of the equipment and facilities provided to becoming super technicians and entrepreneurs and make a living for themselves and contribute to national development.
Representatives of the Enugu State Government and other community leaders thanked the Board for the project, adding that the facilities will help to curb restiveness in the community and create job opportunities for youths through the skills they would acquire.
The principal of the school, Mrs. M.C Onyechi applauded the Board for restoring the glory of the foremost technical college. While beckoning on other corporate agencies in the country to emulate the example of the NCDMB, Onyechi pledged that the investment will be protected and used properly.
Several officials of the Board participated in the events both virtually and onsite, including Mrs. Rose Chukwuonwe, immediate past Coordinator, Legal Services, NCDMB; Mr. Abayomi Bamidele, STA/General Manager, Strategy and Transformation Projects; Dr. Ama Ikuru, General Manager, Capacity Building Division and Mr. Ejiro Dortie, Manager, Capacity Building Division, among others.
