A don at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof. Emmanuel Raymond, has identified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as the best way to address unemployment and the underutilisation of graduates.
Prof. Raymond, a Professor of Industrial Technology Education at the university, made the assertion while delivering the institution’s 131st inaugural lecture held at the 1,000-seat auditorium of the main campus, Gidan Kwano, Minna.
He explained that TVET focuses on providing knowledge and skills for employment and sustainable livelihoods, adding that without technical and vocational education, there would be no capable workforce to sustain Nigeria’s economy.
He said technical and vocational skills remain dependable tools for generating employment opportunities and providing sustainable incomes that drive economic growth.
Prof. Raymond therefore challenged Nigerian graduates to acquire relevant skills that would enable them to become job creators rather than job seekers, noting that the era of depending solely on white-collar jobs was over.
He said: “Today, it is technical and vocational skills that will put food on your table. As a graduate, if you are looking only for a white-collar job, you are making a big mistake. The available opportunities today are in technical and vocational skills.”
Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUT Minna, Prof. Farouk Adamu Kuta, commended the inaugural lecturer for his contribution.
He described Prof. Emmanuel Raymond as an experienced academic who has contributed to the university through research and teaching.
