TETFund, Nigerian Academy of Engineering Collaborate to Strengthen TVE
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering have joined forces to enhance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria. This collaboration aims to bridge the country’s skills gap and promote technical expertise.
As part of this initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday at the TETFund headquarters in Abuja between TETFund, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, commended the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and the NSE for their dedication and efforts in advancing technical education. He expressed concern over the neglect of TVET in the country, emphasizing that it is time for Nigeria to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action.
“If you visit our institutions, you will see that for years, we have only paid lip service to TVET. Many polytechnics, which should be the backbone of technical education, offer courses unrelated to TVET. Their laboratories and workshops contain outdated equipment, and there is a shortage of qualified technical staff. Additionally, we still face challenges such as inadequate power supply, which hampers effective teaching and learning,” Echono stated.
He highlighted that the MoU would serve as a framework for collaboration, reinforcing efforts to address criticisms about Nigeria’s limited contributions to development. He called for collective support from all stakeholders, including government agencies and legislative bodies, to drive TVET forward.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Engr. Rahamon Adisa Bello, described the agreement as a significant milestone. He stressed the urgent need to address the shortage of technicians and artisans, noting that Nigeria has an inverted pyramid in the engineering profession, where professionals outnumber skilled technical workers.
“The federal government has already initiated steps to revive TVET through the launch of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and the integration of the National Skills Qualification into Nigeria’s scheme of service. This will play a key role in reversing the skills gap,” Bello explained.
Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, underscored the importance of engineering and technical education in national development. She expressed satisfaction with the signing of the MoU, noting that it aligns with the NSE’s strategic agenda.
“The objective of TVET is clear—it aims to develop a skilled workforce. TVET is a crucial part of our strategic agenda, and this MoU represents a major step toward advancing the technical industry. With this collaboration, we can harness technical skills for national growth,” Oguntala stated.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for greater investment in TVET, ensuring that Nigeria develops a robust technical workforce capable of driving industrial and economic progress.
