The Ogun State Technical and Vocational Education Board (OGSTVEB), in partnership with National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) have organised a 5-day workshop to review education reforms, particularly in the area of Technical and Vocational training.
The jointly organised workshop themed: ’Critique and Validation of 6 National Occupational Standards and Final Critique for 5 National Technical Certificates (NTC)’ was aimed at enhancing human capital development and job readiness, in Abeokuta.
Declaring the event open, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Mariam Oloko, represented by the Director, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Mr. Tope Lasilo said the curriculum review was timely and critical to securing the future of Ogun State’s youth, emphasising that the upgraded curriculum was not just an academic exercise but a pragmatic move to boost employability and industrial productivity across sectors.
On her part, the Project Coordinator OGSTEP, Mrs. Mosunmola Owo-Odusi, gave insight into the broader scope of the project, explaining that it began with an Industry Needs Survey and a Labour Market Review, which laid the foundation for the reforms.
“So far, we have rehabilitated 558 buildings across technical colleges in the State, which will soon be fully equipped. We are also taking steps to reform the non-formal sector to ensure no learner is left behind,” she said.
Speaking, Acting Executive Secretary, OGSTVEB, Mrs. Mojisola Adenowo, said Ogun State was committed to innovation, relevance and youth empowerment, noting that the 5 new trades being critiqued had been presented for review in the previous year, demonstrating the State’s consistency in following through with educational reforms.
She added that among the 6 newly introduced trades were construction/ornamental craft, embellishment craft, automation/mechatronics craft, agronomy craft, fashion/textile machine repair craft, as well as Adire making craft, showcasing the State’s dedication towards blending cultural heritage with forward-thinking skills development.
“This is not just education, it is empowerment, we are aligning our curriculum with market demands, every child that passes through Ogun technical system will come out equipped with employable, income-generating skills,” Adenowo said.
She stressed that under the visionary leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State had transformed all 8 of its Technical Colleges into modern hubs of innovation and skills acquisition, pointing out that with the support of OGSTEP and the World Bank, the colleges would be equipped with cutting-edge tools and facilities that replicate real-world industrial environments.
In his goodwill message, Executive Secretary, NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, represented by the Director, Curriculum Development, NBTE, Dr. Musa Koko, said the significance of modernising Technical Curricular to meet evolving global standards, ensuring that students were industry-ready upon graduation.
In his opening remark, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Olubori Akinleye, said there was need for responsive curriculum development. “The review is necessary to meet the ever-changing demands of industries and generate employment opportunities for our youth.’’
