NBTE urges Nigeria to follow China’s path to development

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje, has called on the Federal Government to turn to China for Nigeria’s technological and industrial advancement.

Speaking in Kaduna on Monday at a workshop aimed at developing National Occupational Standards/National Skills Qualifications for 25 occupational areas, Bugaje argued that Western countries have historically hindered Africa’s progress due to fears of competition from the continent.

In contrast, he noted that China has been a willing and active partner, already making significant investments in Nigeria’s railways, roads, and airports.

According to Bugaje, revitalising Technical and Vocational Education and Training is crucial for Nigeria’s development.

He commended the Minister of Education’s initiative to rebrand all Federal Science and Technical Colleges and emphasised that Nigeria should leverage China’s Belt and Road Initiative to enhance infrastructure and training.

“Very soon, technical schools will become attractive. At the moment, we are developing a proposal to the Minister for a Belt and Road intervention.

“This is a programme China has been promoting globally, building roads, railways, airports, and other infrastructure worldwide.

“The best way to support these infrastructures is to invest in TVET. The current infrastructure in polytechnics is very weak.

“If we are serious about fast-tracking TVET, we must re-engineer these technical colleges, introduce new infrastructure, phase out outdated curricula, and adopt modern ones,” he stated.

Bugaje also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund initiative, which will provide financial support for students in technical colleges, covering school fees, NSQ certification, monthly allowances, and payments for master craftsmen training them in the field.

“China Can Be a Game-Changer for Nigeria”

Bugaje believes that China’s Belt and Road Initiative offers Nigeria a unique opportunity to revitalise its TVET sector, enhance industrial capacity, and secure much-needed funding and expertise.

The workshop, organised by NBTE in collaboration with the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills Project, brought together technology and industry experts to develop National Occupational Standards/National Skills Qualifications for 25 key fields.

In his remarks, Isah Suleiman, Managing Director of Talent and Skill Managers Limited, noted that participants were drawn from various sectors, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Agriculture, Mechatronics, and Fishery, to address Nigeria’s skills gap and tackle youth unemployment.

Bugaje’s call for stronger collaboration with China comes amid ongoing discussions on how Nigeria can leverage global partnerships to drive industrialisation and economic growth.