The National Council on Skills has established a committee on coordination of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as States Programmes on Skills to tackle critical issues in the skills development sector.
Headed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the committee’s terms of reference include identifying skill trainings in MDAs and states, identifying dominant skills in the private sector, and devising strategies for standardisation, recognition and certification.
The Council also proposed a draft bill for the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) aimed at developing the skills of the nation’s workforce and improving the quality of skilled workers.
A separate committee chaired by the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has been tasked with reviewing the draft bill.
MUST READ: Killing of Soldiers in Aba: Abia State Government Places N25 Million Bounty on Perpetrators
Addressing the 4th National Council on Skills meeting on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated the importance of seizing opportunities, particularly in the digital space.
He urged the committees to work diligently as a team to address the challenges in the skills development sector, emphasizing the need to focus on high-earning skills in the rapidly changing global landscape.
Minister of Education noted the importance of integrating skills into the entire education sector for Nigeria’s true transformation.
He also highlighted the need for conducting skills surveys and labour market information to provide policymakers with reliable and timely data on job quality, skill gaps, and policy design for poverty reduction.
The NSQF aims to establish a system for the development, recognition, and enforcement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Skills Qualifications.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
