By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
As demand for skilled technical manpower continues to grow, concerns are mounting over the declining interest in technical and vocational education. This skills gap has significant implications for employment, industrial development and economic growth. One institution seeking to address this challenge is J.U. Okwandu Memorial Technical College, which offers a range of vocational and technical programmes designed to equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills.
The college provides training in areas such as electrical installation, solar technology, welding and fabrication, building technology, computer studies and hardware maintenance, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, automobile mechanics, and fashion design.
In addition to its technical programmes, the institution offers core academic subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Literature-in-English, Civic Education, Christian Religious Studies, Animal Husbandry, Photography and Videography.
According to the author, the college combines technical training with academic education and is supported by boarding facilities, science and computer laboratories, a library, and a dedicated teaching workforce.The institution’s focus reflects the growing recognition of technical education as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
Advocates argue that vocational skills can help address youth unemployment by preparing graduates for careers in skilled trades and enabling them to establish their own businesses.The article calls on parents and guardians to consider technical education as a viable option for their children, noting that practical skills remain essential to economic development and workforce sustainability in Nigeria.
