Culture and Tourism

FG worries over lack of competent vocational teachers

Published

4 years ago

November 11, 2021

The Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday expressed worry over lack of competent teachers and instructional materials for effective handling of Trade subjects in schools.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, disclosed this in Abuja at a National Workshop on “Repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through Policy and Legislative Options for National Development’’.

The minister said that the 37 Trade subjects, which were already being offered as compulsory subjects in schools, lacked skilled teachers.

Adamu was represented by Mr Masa’udu Kazaure, the immediate past Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

The minister commended the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for creating opportunity to reflect on the road travelled over the past decade and to plan for the journey ahead.

He also commended the context of skill development for the citizenry through sustainable policies and legislation.

“Presently, most of our schools lack competent teachers and instructional materials for effective handling of the 37 Trade subjects already offered as compulsory subjects in Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) since 2013.

“Worst still, the entrepreneurship education courses being offered in many tertiary institutions cannot energise the students’ entrepreneurial spirit and mindset for self-employment.

“It is another giant stride of the Federal Government on TVET in solving massive unemployment problem, diminish rural poverty and empower a larger percentage of the citizens.

“This was approved by the Federal Executive Council for the institutionalisation of a six-level National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) in Nigeria and its placement in the Scheme of Service.

“The Ministry through NBTE developed 41 (forty-one) National Occupational Standards (NOS) and 95 qualifications covering eight (8) economic sectors of the country.

“Namely: Construction, Hospitality, Education & Care, Power, Service Industry, ICT, Agriculture and Manufacturing,” he said.

Adamu added that the ministry had taken far reaching measures on policy formulation and programme implementation to provide recipe for youths to survive in today’s harsh economic environment.

The minister said this would encourage the youths to be job creators instead of “certificate-carrying job-seekers.”

He called for more interventions in the area of special fund for TVET, just as we have TEFUND for vocational training to move forward in the country.

Adamu also said that the National Council on Education had approved the mandatory inclusion of trade subjects in secondary school curriculum and entrepreneurship education in tertiary education curriculum.

He said that the education system of any country was too strategic and sensitive to be treated like any other sector.

Adamu said, if that was not done; the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030 would be a mirage if not hinged on solid TVET system.

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, said the conference would serve as a foundation for TVET development, coordination and effective implementation.

Echono, represented by the Director of Human Resources in the ministry, Mr David Gende, said there was an epic gap between the skilled manpower required and that which was currently available.

“Most of the graduates produced in various Universities of Technology, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education (Technical) and Technical Colleges nationwide do not have specific skills required for the job market (market relevant skills).

“The situation results to having millions of Nigerian graduates that are unemployed.

“This has created a shortfall of adequately skilled educated workforce which is one of the major constraints to the growth and development of our Nation.

“Therefore the present Administration’s emphasis is majored on TVET and skill acquisition is born out of the recognition that TVET is the bedrock of socio-economic growth and development of any nation,” he said.

In the same vein, the Head of Programme, Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE), Hans Bruns, said Nigeria was currently facing tremendous challenges in terms of sustainable job creation and productivity.

Bruns noted that the momentum of reform to achieve good results was now hence the need for rapid steps to provide quality vocational education to the high number of young people.

“It is worthy of note that the government of Nigeria has taken important steps in establishing the National Skills Council with the objective to develop skills for the nation through TVET.

“However, challenges are still remaining. Public education providers need to make education and training more relevant to the demand of private sector,” he said.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, called for more synergy between the public and private sector in addressing the issues of unemployment in the country.

Yemi-Esan, represented by the Director of Leadership, Management and Succession Planning, Mrs Margaret Azeez, said the present administration was working towards up-scaling the manpower and well as providing conducive environment to meet the demand of work.

Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, Registrar, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) called for the empowerment of teachers on technical skills to be able to teach and have best students in the various technical skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Ministry of Education and other federal ministries signed a declaration of cooperation in TVET for quality skills that will enhance youth employment in Nigeria

The two-day event will bring together TVET stakeholders from Government, the private sector, and international organisations to identify options and actions for an improved TVET system in Nigeria.

Highlights of the event includes presentations from key players from the private sector, NACCIMA, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, among others (NAN)

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Creative Industry

THANK YOU MOM-Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

Published

6 days ago

October 29, 2025

The Gleamer

Written by Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

…Every day I get to celebrate and honor being a mother, and honor my mother. Joining grateful children and mothers around the world to give gratitude and celebrate the special gift of motherhood is a priviledge.

I celebrate the blessing of motherhood every second of the day because it is the ultimate gift. I celebrate being a mother and having the most special mother every moment and want to give a loving shout out to my mother.

Anyone who knows my mother, Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa (nee Yusuf Gurshe Rafindadi), will be aware of what a difficult task it is for me to attempt to find the words to describe her. A role model to all who know and love her, my mother lives her life with great humility. Her selflessness and kindness to others knows no bounds. She is a fantastic person who has been blessed with a great sense of humor, a kind nature, and an unassuming ability to make all those around her feel special and loved.

To have the blessing of being able to call Hajia Ladi, ‘Mom’ and Alhaji Musa ‘Dad’ is, perhaps, the greatest fortune of my life. Continuously, I learn and grow from the pure example set by them.

The energy my Mom pumps into the love and caring she displays to all those around her and beyond is boundless. She continues to be a source of inspiration to so many that she meets by her unselfishness, dedication and Faith in Allah. She unceasingly encourages her children, family, friends, neighbors and associates to work hard at life but always to put Allah first. Her faith cradles her and her loved ones even during the times when life throws curve-balls. The courage she always shows in the face of adversity and her inner strength are truly what great people are made of. She is a true blessing.

My greatest wish for my Mom, as I watch her dedicate her life to encouraging, supporting, educating, protecting, helping, loving, and caring for all those she comes in contact with on a daily basis, is for her to be able to see herself the way the World sees her; which is as a blessing, an incredibly special and amazing person. A woman who is indeed a pure soul with a pure heart, a remarkable role model and a woman with great faith.

Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa is a shining gem and an angel. She has incredibly strong values. If ever there was a portrait of a Godly mother, it is she. I am convinced that anything that is pure and good in me, Allah has planted it in me directly from my Mom and Dad.

My Mom is big on teaching. On a daily basis, she teaches me to live my life, make my decisions and conduct myself as if I am teaching my children and the next generation. One of her favorite quotes to me is one of Ghandi’s. “Hannatu, always be the change you want to see in the world…” she would say. This quote consistently reverberates in my head and sticks with me wherever I go. It is exactly how Mom lives her life.

Some of the greatest values I try to uphold; defending my honor religiously, keeping integrity, trying to do right, caring for the downtrodden, were instilled in me by Mom. Her lessons and example influence every good part of my life and positive thought process.

Mom teaches me the difference between right and wrong and urges me to constantly try to make good choices. She teaches me to be faithful to myself, to my family, to my culture, to my community, to my calling, to people around me, to my identity, to my bloodline, to my Father’s name, to Nigeria and especially to Allah. She encourages me to be more focused and strive and finish things that I start. She always urges me to try as best as I can to keep my word and learn to accept and take correction. And she always worries and counsels me about tempering the fiery temper I inherited from my equally incredible late Dad.

Mom teaches me that the things I should treasure should never be made with human hands. She teaches me that it is through giving that I will be filled and fulfilled. She teaches me that originality feeds the soul and energizes the mind. She teaches me to exercise greater patience and always try to endure. She teaches me the difference between right and wrong. She teaches me not to use my power to hurt others. She teaches me to always strive to give more than I receive. This is an example that she lives with daily. Throughout her life she has always been known to help people, even at her own expense. It is the way she lives, even now. She simply loves being there for others and making their lives easier. It is the times that she helps people that you can see the greatest joy in her eyes.

As a little girl, she often took me and my siblings to orphanages, shelters and hospitals so we could see people who were suffering; so we could develop a desire to help people who are suffering. She made us touch and feed lepers in the days when people shunned them. She worries for everyone more than she worries about herself. She tries to do all she can to fix other people’s problems. Her charity was to everyone she interacted with, anyone who needed her and that was what made people gravitate towards her. That is the kind of woman my Mom is.

For the duration of my life I will dedicate every morsel of who I am, everything I have achieved and all that I have ever done good and right to my Mom and Dad. I thank them deeply for loving me so much and being the brightest light in my life. I thank them for showing me what I should be and teaching me how to be free and how to dream. I thank them for being the ultimate example of forgiveness, compassion, friendship, kindness, strength, generosity, honesty, elegance, beauty, resilience, selflessness, care, hope and love. I thank Mom for telling me she loved me every single day of my life. Even when we were not together, she finds a way of getting the message across to me, even if it was just through her energy.

Mom is my rock, my anchor; my strong, beautiful, vibrant angel; my heart and my precious gift from Allah. I am beyond proud of her and everything she is. From the time I was a little girl, Mom and Dad have always been all I have ever needed in my life. My submission to the Almighty comes first beyond everything else and my dedication to Mom and the memory of my Dad I draw through that faith. I truly have exceptional parents. My siblings and I truly won the loterry as far as parents go! We thank The Almighty with everything that we have for the grace and gift he has given us in the form of parents.

…Every day I get to celebrate and honor being a mother, and honor my mother. Joining grateful children and mothers around the world to give gratitude and celebrate the special gift of motherhood is a priviledge. I want to encourage everyone to celebrate and pray for their Mom every single day whether she is living or passed.

“Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa, I wanted to tell the world about the essence of you, my salute to you so they can celebrate with me on my great blessing of you, so they can celebrate their mothers too. You impact the world around you more than you realize. I love you on your good days and on your bad days. I see your sacrifice and struggle day after day. You are not just a mother, you are a role model and an advocate My heart will always belong to you and I want to say “May Allah always be with you.” May we witness many more days together by Allah’s special grace. I LOVE YOU MOM… I THANK YOU!”

Written by Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa

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