The Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNESCO, has pledged its commitment to proactively engage the private sector in skills development. This initiative aims to extend the private sector’s role beyond providing jobs and work-based learning opportunities.
The Honourable Minister for Education Prof Tahir Mamman giving the key note address at a one-day pre-validation meeting of stakeholders on the draft National policy on skills development. He outlined the project’s goals, which address significant learning challenges across all educational levels, and announced a new session for validating the initiative. Prof. Mamman stressed the critical need to launch a revitalized educational program in primary and secondary schools beginning in September this year.
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This program aims to tackle the ongoing learning crisis and improve educational outcomes nationwide.
Prof. Mamman highlighted the broader significance of the program, emphasizing its potential to become a landmark educational legacy for Nigeria. He advocated for the integration of practical skills into the curriculum to complement theoretical knowledge.
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, underscored the need for unwavering commitment to this policy to empower and equip Nigerian youth with the skills necessary to thrive in the ever-evolving job market.
He encouraged participants to contribute their expertise, insight, and innovative ideas to address the problems facing the youth and create a future where they are trained to become active participants in the economic and social development of the nation.
In his goodwill message, the UNESCO representative to Nigeria, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, assured the Federal Ministry of Education of UNESCO’s support in prioritizing skills across all levels of education.
This includes lifelong learning, recognition, validation, and accreditation of non-formal and informal learning. Diallo emphasized the importance of a National Qualification Framework (NQF) in reforming national education and training systems, which serve as vital reference points for lifelong learning and the comparison of qualifications across borders.