Ekiti urges youth to embrace skill acquisition for self-reliance
The Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment to the development of skills and vocational education, given the importance of youth development and job creation.
The Chairman of the Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Kayode Babade, who hailed the state government’s attention to the six technical colleges in Ekiti State, made a case for parents, residents and youth of Ekiti State to embrace skills and vocational education to prepare themselves for self-reliance.
Babade, who spoke on Saturday during the matriculation ceremony for 400 fresh students of Government Technical College, Ado Ekiti, said, “There is a dire need for skill acquisition. The present and the future belong to men and women of skills.”
He enjoined parents, staff and residents to “encourage your wards and friends to seek admission into any course of their interest in this school or any of our technical colleges.”
The BTVE chairman said the schools had been well positioned and equipped, adding, “Thus, the reason the college in Ado Ekiti is fondly regarded as the Best Technical College facilities in Southwest Nigeria.”
The Executive Secretary, BVTE, Dr Ben Ajayi, expressed confidence in the ability of the six technical colleges “to successfully train competent skilled labour for Ekiti State across all 19 trade areas currently available.”
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Ayodeji Odetola, advised the fresh students to be focused and determined and shun cultism and other social vices.
Odetola said, “Technical and vocational skills should be encouraged to ensure a better future for our dear nation. What we need now is technical and vocational education to guarantee the future of our country.”
The principal of GTC, Ado Ekiti, Mr Rufus Jayeola, lauded the state government for the prompt response given to the needs and activities of the school as and when required.
However, in order to facilitate ICT and workshop practical training being given to the students among other operations, Jayeola appealed for the need to connect the 500 kVA transformer in the college to the national grid.
