The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading the bill to establish the Federal College of Vocational and Technical Studies in Naka, Benue State.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West), told his colleagues that the establishment of the institute will promote innovative learning opportunities in myriad areas like “bricklaying, electrical installations, plastering, roofing, plumbing, painting, cooling systems and refrigeration, carpentry, steel fabrications, and welding, among others.”
Senator Zam further argued: “It is noteworthy to mention that there is a high rate of unemployment in the country. And if Nigeria is desirous of combating the menace, we must, as a matter of priority, encourage technical skills acquisition as it is done in other jurisdictions to ensure that we align with the global paradigm shift, especially now that AI is taking over human activities in the white-collar jobs.
“This is paramount, as it will go a long way to check youth restiveness and other social vices in the country, thereby reducing insecurity.
According to him, the acquisition of vocational and technical skills is a major requirement for the economic viability and development of any given nation.
Said he: “The establishment of this college will afford the teeming youths of this country who are unemployed the advantage of the available opportunity to acquire the requisite skills in order to contribute their quota to national development.”
He pointed out that the bill demonstrates the renewed commitment to improve career and technical education when signed into law.
“This is with the view to ensuring that trainees are better equipped to succeed in the national workforce of this country,” he said.
In his contribution, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Senator Emmanuel Udende, pointed out that the specialised knowledge of the institute will create jobs and bring development to the area.
Other speakers unanimously endorsed the bill and it was sent to the relevant committee for further legislative action.
Bill to establish vocational, technical institute in Benue passes second reading in Senate