From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia
The Nasarawa state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute for Technical Education, Education Services in Singapore for the transfer of technology and the enhancement of technical education in the state.Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura after signing the document yesterday at the Government House Lafia, disclosed that the agreement reached was a fallout of his initial visit to Singapore in 2012, when he undertook a study tour of the institute.
The Governor said the partnership with ITE was as a result of the quest by his administration to enhance technical education as well as skills acquisition in the state, with the skills acquisition centersin Lafia, Doma and the technical college in Assakio marked out as pilot centers for the programme.
Al-makura further disclosed that already equipment worth millions of Naira has been ordered for shipment which will soon arrive the state to kick start the programme, adding that the technical partners would also evolve a new curriculum for the centers in line with global trends.
“The vision is to convert our technical schools and skills acquisition centers to be the best in the country and to provide our youths with the type of education that would make them labour market compliant” he said.Al-makura earlier on decried the futility of over reliance on academic qualifications in the country, stressing that human beings have propensities to different types of callings, adding that hisadministration will provide holistic education to take care of all category of people. On his part, Dr. Benjamin Tan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the ITE, who also signed the agreement on behalf of the institute, thanked the Nasarawa state government, promising to assist the administration attain its vision to enhance technical education.He disclosed that soon technical experts and equipment will arrive and training of both staff and students will commence in earnest.Shortly after signing the agreement, Governor Al-makura led the visitors on assessment of facilities on ground at the three pilot centers located in Assakio, Lafia and Doma.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
