The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Dr Mohammed Mohammed, said Nigeria’s economic recovery and future prosperity lie in reviving vocational and technical education.
Mohammed made this declaration on Tuesday during a monitoring visit to two technical schools, the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and Federal Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, where he assessed the ongoing NABTEB examinations.
The registrar, impressed by the facilities at the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and the conduct of the examinations, commended the Lagos State Government for its commitment to technical and vocational education.
“Well, it is amazing. I’m happy to be here. If all technical schools were like this, I would be one of the happiest people.
“All the major trades are provided — not only for teaching, but the workshops are fully equipped with standard and model equipment to support students in adapting to today’s technology,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of the visit as part of his responsibility to ensure that the NABTEB exams are properly conducted across the nation.
“It is my duty to visit centres writing the NABTEB exam, assess the environment, and engage with the school leadership.
“I’m here to see what is working and identify what needs improvement when the opportunity comes,” he said.
Mohammed used the platform to issue a strong call for national investment in vocational education, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability due to its inability to produce or maintain essential items.
“We didn’t know our problem in Nigeria until COVID. It really exposed us, that we are nothing because we cannot produce anything. Even what we have, we cannot maintain.
“Any country that undermines technical and vocational education is heading for doom. The government must revive trade centres, vocational centres, and technical colleges because artisans, craftsmen, and technicians are the true drivers of any economy,” he stated.
Mohammed expressed concerns over Nigeria’s overreliance on paper qualifications rather than practical skills.
“In Nigeria today, employment demands PhDs and master’s degrees. But in developed countries, nobody cares about your certificate they want to know what you can do.
“We must shift focus from paper qualification to skills contribution,” he added.
He also commended the Federal Government’s current TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) initiative under the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, urging Nigerians to rally behind it.
“This initiative, if successful, will contribute immensely to our GDP, reduce dependency, and build a self-reliant nation,” he added.
Mohammed fondly recalled his previous visits to the Federal Technical College, Yaba, in 1981, 1989, and 1995, commending the transformation he witnessed in 2025.
“This school has a long-standing history in Nigeria’s technical development. I was here last in 1995, and when I entered this morning, I was impressed by the progress. I give kudos to the electrical department and the management team,” he said.
He also praised the Government Technical College, Yaba, as one of the two most prominent technical colleges in the country, alongside its counterpart in Kaduna.
“These two colleges, Yaba and Kaduna, were once the backbone of Nigeria’s technical education. Unfortunately, Kaduna is struggling now. We visited there last week, and it’s not the same. But I want to encourage Yaba to keep up the good work,” he said.
Mohammed stressed the role of the media in ensuring the success of the government’s technical education drive.
“Especially you, the media, you are the ones to take this TVET initiative to every nook and cranny of this country,” he said.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Moronke Azeez, expressed delight at the registrar’s observations.
“Despite the short notice, he was very impressed with what he saw: standard classrooms, disciplined students, well-equipped workshops. That reflects the massive support from our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” she said.
Azeez also advocated for giving young people a real choice in education.
“We must stop discriminating against technical education. Students should be free to pursue either general or vocational education, and we must support them equally. That’s how we build a balanced, skill-rich nation,” he concluded.
