Enugu, Nigeria – May 15, 2025
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for urgent and large-scale investment in vocational and technical education as a strategic response to the surging unemployment rates in Nigeria. The governor made this appeal during the South East and South South Interregional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) forum held yesterday in Enugu.
The event, organized by the Enugu State Chapter of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB) with support from the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), brought together stakeholders from across the two regions to discuss sustainable solutions to youth unemployment.
Delivering the governor’s address, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasized the importance of a skills-based education system tailored to meet current labour market demands.
“There is an urgent need to reimagine our approach to education by prioritizing technical and vocational pathways that are responsive and relevant,” Onyia stated on behalf of Governor Mbah. “Across the regions, there is growing recognition that traditional academic pathways alone cannot address the employment needs of our growing youth population.”
Mbah stressed that a paradigm shift is necessary, one that equips young Nigerians with practical skills and competencies, making them not just job seekers but also job creators.
The TVET forum highlighted the critical role of collaboration between government, industry, and development partners in strengthening vocational training frameworks and institutions. Participants at the forum echoed the governor’s call, advocating for increased funding, modernized curricula, and expanded access to vocational education for youth across the country.
With Nigeria’s unemployment rate continuing to pose a national challenge, the Enugu State government’s push for enhanced vocational education is seen as a proactive step towards building a more resilient and inclusive economy.