Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr Olajide Adelami has stressed the need to integrate practical skills leaning into the curricula of study of all the strata of Nigeria’s education system.
He praised the federal government for integrating mandatory technical, vocational and entrepreneurship courses into the curriculum of tertiary institutions to equip graduates with practical skills required to thrive in modern economy.
Adelami made the suggestion on Thursday while speaking at the maiden convocation ceremony of the College of Technology, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo City in Ondo state.
He said that every student at different levels of learning must learn one practical skill or another to function optimally in today’s world.
The deputy governor lauded the “President Tinubu administration for its efforts to reposition the education sector towards producing graduates who are technologically skilled, innovative and globally competitive”.
According to him, technical education and vocational skills have become indispensable in a rapidly changing world, stressing the need for tertiary institutions to continuously prepare students beyond conventional academic qualifications.
The federal government’s National Policy on Skills Development in Formal and Non-formal Education targets learners across all educational tiers to ensure academic learning is combined with hands-on vocational and digital skills.
The deputy governor said technical and vocational skils acquisition remains top priority of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration while acknowledging the state as the top beneficiary of graduates of the College.
He also commended the Rector of the College for his ingenuity and innovative approach to positioning the institution for growth and relevance.
Also, happreciated the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bayode Popoola, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Hajia Ganiyat Yusuf, for their dedication to the development of the College and the university as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Rector of the College, Dr. Kehinde Adenegan, said the institution was established to bridge the gap between education and industry through practical training, technology and entrepreneurship.
“Our focus is on practical skills, technology and entrepreneurship. We are committed to producing graduates who will not just look for jobs but create jobs,” Dr. Adenegan emphasized.
The Rector thanked the deputy governor and other dignitaries who attended the maiden convocation for their support and encouragement, which he said contributed to the success of the ceremony.
The event also featured the convocation lecture, which was delivered by Dr. Foluso Falaye, titled; ‘From Classroom to Industry; Harnessing Technology and Innovation to Drive Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation’
Adeyemi College of Technology (ACT), Ondo is a specialised training school under the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, designed to award diplomas in fields such as Software Engineering, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Content Creation and Digital Marketing, Hardware Engineering and Maintenance, among others.
Highpoint of the ceremony was presentation of awards to distinguished personalities including, the Ondo state deputy governor and community leader, Sir Chief Ayo Akingbule.
