Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved ₦36 million to support vocational institute graduates, stressing the importance of strengthening technical and vocational education alongside academic learning.
Governor Sule
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has approved the sum of ₦36 million for graduates of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technical Institute, Lafia, as part of the state government’s policy to support youth employment through practical skills training.
Governor Sule announced this during the institute’s fourth-anniversary celebration and graduation ceremony held on Friday on its premises in Lafia.
He also directed the management to intensify partnerships with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to secure placements and post-training opportunities for graduates.
He stated that his administration established the institute in February 2022 as part of its policy to strengthen vocational and technical education across the state, noting that the policy seeks to reduce poverty and create wealth by equipping young people with practical skills that make them employers of labour rather than job seekers.
“While academic education remains important, we must strengthen vocational and technical education because not every young person would follow the traditional academic path. Many can build successful careers and businesses through skills in technology, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, fashion, automobile repairs, electrical works, and ICT,” the governor said.
He outlined the policy shift that transformed the institute from a research-based centre inherited in 2019 into a modern hands-on training facility, adding that the administration repurposed the site to replicate the Government Technical College Bukuru model of the 1970s and 1980s, equipping it with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and high-level mechanical equipment to meet industry standards.
Governor Sule added that the policy was already yielding results, with young persons from within and outside Nasarawa State passing through the programmes to establish their own businesses.
He said the growing number of trainees from other states demonstrates that Nasarawa is becoming a destination of choice for technical education.
The governor therefore directed the management to sustain high standards, expand training areas, and strengthen collaboration with government agencies and private sector organisations.
In a goodwill message, the former Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mohammed Haruna, said no country could develop without science and technology.
Haruna noted that Nasarawa is industrialising and must ensure indigenes drive the economic transformation through technical skills.
He announced the donation of equipment worth ₦9 million to the Relevant Technology to feed into the institute.
The ITF Lafia Area Office Manager, Halima Mohammed, confirmed the state government’s policy of allocating land for a permanent ITF site in Lafia.
She disclosed that work was progressing steadily, with five buildings currently at the lintel level.
The National President of NECA, Richard Ayibiowu, said the private sector was ready to support post-training activities for graduates of the institute.
Commissioner for Education, John Mamman, said the institute had trained about 10,000 people since its commissioning in 2022.
He cited other government policies, including the Second Chance programme in Akwanga currently training 300 people with a target of 965, and the distribution of multi-functional kiosks equipped with POS and recharge handsets across local government areas.
In his address, Executive Director of the institute, Ewuga Esele, said the institute had trained and graduated 10,175 people since inception, regardless of tribe, religion, or political affiliation.
Esele added that the institute offers training in electrical and electronics, mechanical, welding and fabrication, construction, information and communication technology, culinary services, textile and fashion design, and cosmetology.
He also disclosed that the institute had secured accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and has a workforce of 207 multidisciplinary staff.
Esele acknowledged challenges including the need for modern equipment, maintenance of facilities, human resource development, and post-training support for graduates.
He said the next phase of the institute’s development would focus on consolidation, expansion, and strengthening alumni networks.
The institute was inaugurated on February 24, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
