OBASANJO COMMENDED FOR PROMOTING TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Nigeria former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has been commended for launching the 6-3-3-4 system of education during his tenure as Nigeria Head of State, which exposed pupils to technical education at the junior secondary level and the introduction of entrepreneurship education at Tertiary Institutions, to make learners acquire creative skills that could sustain them economically.

The Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Technical Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, gave this commendation during an interview with news men in Abeokuta, assuring that government would restore the lost glory of Technical Education in the State.

Prof. Odemuyiwa, said the present administration has put in place measures to ensure each of the Technical colleges have their institutionalized programmes such as; Building, Mechanical, Engineering and Agricultural trades, among others, saying continuous training was also being organised for technicians and artisans, to update their acquired skills and make them relevant to meet international standard.

He disclosed that the State government was collaborating the State’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCIMA), Germany and Korea organizations, for dual apprenticeship system, whereby artisans in Technical Education are exposed to 30 percent in class and 70 percent in the industry or workshop, for them to possess both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Odemuyiwa affirmed that Technical Instructors were adequately qualified to teach and produce competent graduates from the Government Science and Technical Colleges, emphasising the need to combine formal and informal instructors to balance the gap between theories and practical.

Reacting, Mr. Sola Makinde from Abeokuta gave kudos to Government for its determination to advance technical education, saying, it was capable of engendering economic development of the State.