Opinion
Vocational Education: UBEC’s Strategic Milestone Towards Imparting Basic Education
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
For the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, the task of impacting and imparting Basic Education and knowledge goes beyond ordinary, as the emerging world also desire vocation/entrepreneur from the early stage, even while learning at Basic Education level, so as to prepare Junior Secondary School students (JSS 1-3), for the challenges ahead.
Since this idea of developing children to master skills acquired, so as to prepare them for Enterpreneurial exploitation after the Junior Secondary School as obtainable in both developed and developing world, the desire of the commission to inculcate simultaneously practical skills and knowledge cannot be overlooked.
The demand for the 21st century is competitive and dicey along with the digitisation, there is no doubt , preparing the junior school pupils for all round development of their capacity and capabilities at the tender age would be a priority needed.
The recent re-introduction of Vocational Education laced with Enterpreneurial skills and development by the commission across the country will not only solidify Basic Education, but deepened the desire for vocation, given the provision of equipment like the state of the art Structures, Laboratories, Workshops, Computer Laboratories to acquaint the junior school pupils ahead of the emerging challenges.
While embracing the provision and requirements of SDGs 4 goals in it’s activities, the commission under Hamid Bobboyi had gone ahead to adapt both environmental, indigenous and practical realities on ground to complement the efforts of pupils, whose indulgence also engaged in acquisition of practical knowledge, even after school hours.
Considering all variables, the decision of the commission to set up over 100 vocational schools and enterpreneurial development learning across the country, with over 51 schools across 17 states ready for commissioning, has justified the efforts to hurriedly bring on board vocation and entrepreneur learning side by side with the curriculum of Basic Education in the country .
The relentless efforts of the commission paid off with the commissioning of a maiden vocational education school at Nagari Junior Secondary and Vocational School (JSS) at Birnin Kebbi recently and three others located at Wamako, Wurno, Sifawa, the three Senatorial district all in Sokoto State.
With the sole aim of the commission allowing students through vocation and entrepreneur assessed self reliance, develop some skills and knowledge, master them and also deploy them after graduation from the junior secondary school, will be the best thing that will happen to the country.
For the commission, the zeal to introduce such practices and knowledge at Junior Secondary School level after graduation, was geared towards equipping pupils with vocation and enterpreneurial skills to prepare them ahead of future challenges and exposed them to different ways of human capital development.
The positive development will guarantee at the early stage of Junior Secondary School graduation allowed the pupils access to series of potentials, employable opportunity at that tender age and also prepare them into realizing and developing other potential areas, towards acquisition of both practical knowledge and development.
Having acquired state of the art equipment in about 100 locations across the country, the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, in a short time have internalized the new curricular in the day to day activities of Junior Secondary School (JSS), and by extension instill a permanent vocation and knowledge in pupils at the early stage.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.