Shettima: We Must Synergise To Maximise Nigeria’s Skills Potential

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called for stronger synergy among stakeholders in both public and private sectors to effectively drive Nigeria’s aspirations in skills development.

He noted that the demographic dividend accruals to Nigeria can be best maximized if the workforce and the youth are adequately skilled in critical sectors of the economy.

These, among others, formed the outcome of the fifth meeting of the National Council on Skills chaired by the vice-president in Abuja.

According to Shettima, “We know that isolated programmes, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot substitute for a unified national strategy, that is why this council’s work remains indispensable. There are challenges but we can conquer them if we act with unity, urgency and foresight.”

The council also deliberated on strategies for advancing Nigeria’s skills landscape and ensuring alignment with the eight-point agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration, even as it commended the proposed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheduled for unveiling on May 16, 2025. 

The council urged improved consultations with sister ministries and departments regarding the initiative, emphasizing the need to prioritize digital skills training, especially among youths.

It reiterated its commitment to ensuring coherence in skills development policies, monitoring implementation effectively and adapting strategies to meet emerging labour market trends.

The body also approved the adoption of National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certifications for skills training centres across MDAs, the 36 states of the federation, and the private sector, just as it acknowledged the crucial role of the private sector in skills development in the country. 

Present at the meeting were the Ministers of Education, Youth Development; Communications & Digital Economy; Industry Trade & Investment; Works; and Women Affairs, representatives of state governments, heads of agencies, the organised private sector and development partners.

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    2025 UTME Begins As JEOG Preps 501 Blind Candidates in 11 Centres

    2025 UTME Begins As JEOG Preps 501 Blind Candidates in 11 Centres

    Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

    As the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins nationwide, the Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebulola, has revealed that 501 blind candidates and others with special needs have been prepped.

    The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, in 2017, set up the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) with Okebukola as the chairman to oversee the smooth and orderly conduct of UTME for blind and other special needs candidates. 

    Okebulola confirmed Thursday that the 501 blind candidates registered to sit for the 2025 UTME will take the exams in 11 designated centres nationwide on April 28 and 29, and this will involve 20 subjects. 

    He said in 2024, 70% of JEOG candidates, notably the blind and albinos were offered admission to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, and were admitted to such courses as law, special education, computer science, medicine and surgery, different programmes in education, mass communication, civil engineering, pharmacy, nursing science and business administration. 

    He added that on the distribution of the candidates and the centre coordinators, many of whom are former vice-chancellors, Okebukola noted that: “Lagos has the highest number of 107 with Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, former VC of LASU as coordinator. 

    “The candidates take the same test papers as the regular candidates and standards are not lowered in any form.”

    Speaking further, Okebukola noted that: “This year, 84 blind candidates who are SSCE prima facie qualified for admission to institutions of higher learning in Nigeria  (that is with at least five O-level credits) will have the cost of their UTME registration refunded on site during the examination.”

    He added that the other five “goodies” that Oloyede has been showering on the candidates since 2017 are free hotel accommodation for the blind candidates and their guides, free braille slate and stylus, customised T-shirts, free meals through the examination period and transport supplementation for the blind candidates and their guides. 

    According to Okebukola, “This year and for the second time, JAMB, through JEOG, will implement the bimodal system of UTME administration. This involves fully-braille and fully read-aloud. Candidates have a choice of mode. 

    “JEOG has been resourced by JAMB to make the experience of the two modes of test administration pleasant for the candidates. We had 348 candidates in 2022, 313 in 2023 and 529 in 2024.

    “The examination has been scheduled for April 28 and 29, 2025 in the 11 centres and involves 20 subjects. The candidates take the same test papers as the regular candidates and standards are not lowered in any form.” 

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    Kuni Tyessi in Abuja As the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) begins nationwide, the Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebulola, has revealed that

    Shettima Presides Over NEC Meeting 

    Shettima Presides Over NEC Meeting 

    Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

    Vice-President Kashim Shettima is presiding over the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, with several key national issues, including insecurity and state policing expected to be discussed by participants.

    The meeting, holding at the Council Chambers, is being attended by state governors and some deputy governors including the newly appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), who is attending the NEC meeting for the first time since his appointment. 

    Also present is Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.

    Other governors in attendance include the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara); Hyacinth Alia (Benue); Bassey Otu (Cross River); Monday Okpebholo (Edo); Uba Sani (Kaduna); and Alex Otti (Abia), among others. 

    A sizeable number of the states are being represented by deputy governors. 

    The National Economic Council, which is chaired by the vice-president and comprises all the 36 state governors, the Central Bank Governor, and other key officials, meets periodically to deliberate on economic and developmental matters and to advise the president accordingly.

    Among the pressing issues billed for discussion is the growing insecurity in parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Zamfara and Kwara States. 

    The council is expected to review on-going security strategies and the status of state-level consensus on the establishment of state police.

    The outcome of the ongoing NEC meeting is expected to shape federal and state-level collaborations in tackling insecurity, boosting economic growth and enhancing governance in Nigeria.

    The last NEC meeting, held on February 20, saw the launch of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a nationwide programme designed to tackle malnutrition in all local government areas across the country.

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    Deji Elumoye in Abuja  Vice-President Kashim Shettima is presiding over the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, with several key national issues, including insecurity and

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