Uchechukwu Nnaike
Concerned about the level of unemployment in the country, the principal of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Mr. David Omada, has urged youths to acquire technical skills to make them self-reliant because the white collar jobs are no longer available.
Omada said this at the valedictory service for the class of 2023, with the theme ‘Building Confidence’. The college graduated 1,290 students from the science, technical and vocational sections.
He commended the federal government for introducing the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project to boost technical skills acquisition.
He said the World Bank-funded project is to support technical colleges to raise quality and relevant skills acquisition programmes; to provide world class practical skills for young engineers and technologists; and to enhance the use of digital skills.
He said as part of the IDEAS project, work is ongoing to renovate and equip sections like Building Construction Trades (Block Laying and Concreting, Painting and Decorating, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, Carpentry and Joinery and Furniture Craft); Computer Craft (Robotic Engineering); and Hospitality (Catering Craft Practices).
For effective impartation, Omada appealed to the federal government to employ more teachers, especially in trade subjects like furniture, carpentry, plumbing and foundry.
He said the school is also grappling with challenges like shortage of classrooms, but his administration is currently building new classrooms, and renovating other structures to improve on what he met on ground.
He thanked the teaching and non-teaching staff and other stakeholders for contributing towards the success of the last academic session, adding that students’ performances in BECE, JAMB, WASSCE and NECO were significantly better than before.
“At the 2022 AGM of principals, FSTC Yaba emerged as the best in NABTEB out of the 112 unity colleges. We also hosted the 2022 Federal Unity Colleges Games (FEDCOL) successfully,” he said.
The principal urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the college and aim high in life, adding that they should use the knowledge acquired over the years to chart a bright future for themselves.
The Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee, Hon. Abiola Bashir-Are, who is the CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, stressed the need for technical education, saying that self-sustainability is about technical skills.
He urged the graduands to be guided by the three core values of the school, punctuality, integrity and respect in their future endeavours.
The PTA Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Onyenuche, advised the outgoing students to focus on their future and on humanity so as to create values that would help them and others.
He called for more awareness among parents on the importance of technical colleges, adding that the government should properly equip laboratories and workshops, provide adequate manpower and create job opportunities to make technical education more attractive.
