By Oluchi Chibuzor
The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Wahab Azeez, has stressed the need for the country to develop a special curriculum for vocational training.
This he said is imperative considering the significance of vocational skills in the fourth industrial age.
Azeez, who stated this in Lagos recently at a programme to commemorate his two years in office, said as one of the foremost technical education institutions in the country, it is imperative for the nation to consider developing a special curriculum for students who are gifted in craft.
He therefore called on the government to consider upgrading the institution to a federal university of technical education to provide a path for school leavers with technical background.
“The act that established this college is being amended at the National Assembly; my aspiration is to see that this college is upgraded to the Federal University of Technical Education. We are ready to develop a special curriculum for vocational training that will meet the needs of the nation.
“This is to enable us to service the students who are yearning for and want to run degree programmes in technical education, and we are already talking with members of NASS on it.”
The provost stressed the importance of technical education in Nigeria, saying that China is giving preference to it, being the reason for its progress.
“In all of these things, TETFund has been of great assistance; our programmes are increasing so we need to expand and create an enabling environment for youths to learn more skills.”
Highlighting some of the successes recorded, the provost said: “We have the construction of a two-storey block of classrooms for teaching and offices for use by members of staff, both for academic and non-academic, while our senior staff block will be changed to have inbuilt toilets.
“In addition, we have acquired equipment like multi-media projectors for departments, and also, the first-ever 500 capacity lecture theatre, which the college has never had,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union Staff (COEASU), Ebenezer Oje, who urged the management to intensify efforts at providing internet connectivity for lectures, said the provost has been able to make the union redundant through his interpersonal relationship with the body.
“We have an enabling environment to work to the optimum level, because you are given the chance to grow considering the fact that you are capable,” he said.
