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FG To Stop Varsity From Producing Graduates Without Technical Skills

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Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has vowed to put a stop to the trend of tertiary institutions producing graduates who lack technical skills.

The minister, who recently got appointed into the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu to man the Ministry of Education, said he plans to shift to a model where education will be 20 percent the­oretical and 80 percent practical.

He made the disclosure at the 2024 TETFund National Re­search Fair and Exhibition in Abuja, which officially opened on Monday.

While emphasising the need to promote technical and vocational education, across board, he de­cried a situation where tertiary institutions continue to churn out graduates who lack the requisite skills to function effectively in society.

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“We are going to realign our ed­ucational system to meet the needs of Nigerians. We have a unique demographic profile—over 220 million people, with 70 percent of them below the age of 30.

“These young men and wom­en are energetic, eager to learn, and ready to contribute to this country. We need to equip them with the right skills.

“We will shift to a model where education is 20 percent theoretical and 80 percent practical. That’s how we are going to move for­ward. Enough of producing grad­uates who lack technical skills.

“We need to create jobs and provide life skills for young Nigerians. For our TVET pro­grammes, we will incentivise peo­ple to enroll in technical schools. We will cover their tuition and build capacity in these schools.

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“During their training, 20 percent will involve classroom learning, while 80 percent will be hands-on apprenticeship. This is how we will ensure they are ready to contribute meaningfully to the workforce,” he stated.

The minister equally revealed that President Tinubu has ap­proved N5 billion for investment in research activities for 2024 through the National Research Fund, managed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET­Fund).

Alausa noted that the fund is aimed at ensuring that appropri­ate research is conducted in pub­lic tertiary institutions to develop solutions to many of Nigeria’s national development challenges.

According to the minister, “At this time in our democratic development, Nigeria is facing several challenges, including youth underemployment, the effects of poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure decay.

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“However, we believe that the contributions of professionals, as showcased in this National Re­search Fair, will play a critical role in addressing these challenges.

“Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has already emphasised that his Renewed Hope Agenda will be implemented primarily based on local research and in­novation outputs.

“As seen in other countries, economic growth cannot be achieved without leveraging the outcomes of research and tech­nological efforts.”

Alausa noted that the Re­search Fair would also foster the desired synergy among relevant research and innovation agencies to accelerate the application of their efforts and results toward nation building.

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According to him, this synergy would ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered effi­ciently and that research and in­novation institutions, which are currently scattered across various ministries, are better coordinated for greater effectiveness.

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BREAKING: Dangote Refinery slashes petrol, diesel prices

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has made a new adjustment to its ex-gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, reducing it from N1,215 to N1,165 per litre.

A reliable source who is privy to this development confirmed that the refinery also reduced the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, from N1,650 to N1,570 per litre.

The latest review reflects N50 and N80 reductions in petrol and diesel prices, respectively.

Details shortly…

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Just in: FG ready to pay outstanding wage award before August 15, promotion arrears to follow

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The Federal Government has assured public servants that the outstanding wage award will be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears are being processed as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil its commitments to workers.

The assurance was given by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, during a meeting with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by its National President, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir.

The Minister said government had already commenced work on many of the issues presented by the Council even before receiving its formal communication, adding that the administration remains committed to resolving legitimate labour concerns through constructive engagement.

“When government makes commitments, it delivers. We are not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled. Where there are outstanding issues, we will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented,” the Minister said.

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He disclosed that the necessary release for payment of the outstanding wage award was being concluded and expressed confidence that eligible public servants would begin receiving the payment before the middle of the month.

The Minister also assured the delegation that promotion arrears were receiving the required attention, with the outstanding batches being processed in line with established procedures.

He directed officials to immediately review all documents presented by the Council, work with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and accelerate action on all outstanding matters requiring government intervention.

Oyedele acknowledged the concerns expressed by organised labour over delays in implementing some agreements but assured the delegation that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen trust through openness, regular consultation and prompt action.

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“Our objective is to build a system where issues are resolved proactively. We want workers to have confidence that once government gives its word, it will honour that commitment,” he said.

Earlier, the National President of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, commended the Minister for receiving the delegation and appealed for the speedy resolution of pending labour issues, including the outstanding wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity concerns affecting health workers and other matters affecting public servants.

He said timely implementation of the outstanding commitments would further strengthen industrial harmony and boost workers’ confidence in government’s resolve to address their welfare.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with organised labour to ensure that approved workers’ entitlements are processed and released without avoidable delays.

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He said the Ministry would continue to engage relevant government institutions to fast track the resolution of outstanding labour issues, stressing that constructive dialogue remains the most effective path to sustaining industrial harmony.

The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, assured the labour delegation that government was making steady progress in addressing outstanding workers’ entitlements.

He disclosed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which was inadvertently omitted during the earlier payment exercise, is now being processed alongside Batch 9, expressing confidence that beneficiaries would begin receiving their payments once processing is completed.

Danjuma further stated that the Federal Government is working assiduously to address the issue of the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour related matters in collaboration with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

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Providing an update on the payment process, the Director, Cash Management Department, Federal Ministry of Finance, Christiana Osho, disclosed that reconciliation for the outstanding wage award had been completed and that the payment release was at its final stage.

She explained that once the release is effected, eligible public servants will begin receiving the outstanding wage award, while processing of the outstanding promotion arrears continues in line with the approved schedule.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration to ensure the timely resolution of outstanding labour issues and the continued promotion of industrial harmony across the Federal Public Service.

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How I was scammed, businessman who paid N400m to embattled PFIPC DG Adeyemi tells HoR C’ttee

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The Managing Director, Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Collins, has informed the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee that he paid N400 million to the purported Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, after allegedly being promised a contract to renovate and furnish what was presented as the official residence of the DG.

This revelation comes amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged establishment and operations of the agency.

Narrating the ordeal before the committee on Tuesday, Collins noted that he believed the PFIPC was a genuine Federal Government institution because Adeyemi operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, moved with security personnel and official vehicles bearing government number plates, and received visitors in what appeared to be an authentic government office.

Collins, a graduate of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said he first met Adeyemi, whom he described as a fellow indigene of Ogbomoso, during a programme in their hometown in December 2024.

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According to him, Adeyemi later invited him to Abuja in early 2025 to discuss a business opportunity.

“When I arrived at the airport, he sent an official car to come and pick me up from the airport to his office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

“When I got to his office, I met him there. He is a well-known man in Ogbomoso. I met a lot of people, very big dignitaries in his office, and I met a group of security officers guarding the office,” he said.

Collins said Adeyemi introduced himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the PFIPC.

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He told lawmakers that it was his first visit to Abuja and that the official setting gave him no reason to question Adeyemi’s claims.

“I saw police officers with him. That was my first time coming to Abuja because I’m not familiar with Abuja very well.

He sent his official car to pick me up from the airport. It had a Federal Government registration number attached to the Lexus SUV,” he said.

Collins said Adeyemi later informed him that he had been allocated an official residence as the DG and wanted his (Collins’) company to handle its renovation and furnishing.

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According to him, Adeyemi personally took him to inspect the property.

“He told me that he wanted to do refurbishment and renovation of the official house assigned to him as the DG of that agency and asked whether I would be able to handle the contract.

“He took me to the house to show me the property because I slept in Abuja. We went there the following day with his staff.

” We went with more than four, five or six vehicles with security.

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“They opened the house and took us round, showing me what they wanted to do,” Collins added.

He said discussions continued until April 2025 when Adeyemi allegedly handed him a contract award letter, scope of work and an agreement between the purported council and his company.

Collins told the committee that he was informed he needed to pay N400m to demonstrate his company’s financial capacity and facilitate mobilisation for the contract.

“He gave me the contract award letter, the scope of work and the agreement with my company to execute the refurbishment project.

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“I had to pay N400m for the facilitation of that project to show my strength that I would be able to handle the project. At the same time, he said it would fast-track the mobilisation for the contract,” he said.

The businessman disclosed that he raised the money from business associates who trusted him because he had personally visited Adeyemi’s office.

According to him, N380m was paid in four instalments between May and June 2025 into a Guaranty Trust Bank account belonging to World Entrepreneurs Limited, while the balance of N20m was paid on July 29, 2025, into an Access Bank account belonging to Sunshine Confectionery and Catering Services.

“When I was paying the money, I kept telling him that I collected the money from my colleagues who were doing business with me.

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“I was the one who told them I had gone to this man’s office, so I believed it was going to be a great opportunity for us. That was why people started giving me the money,” Collins said.

He said Adeyemi repeatedly assured him that mobilisation for the project would commence in August 2025, but the promise never materialised.

“When I finished the payment, he said they were going to do the mobilisation by August,” he said.

Collins said subsequent explanations centred on security concerns before fresh assurances were given that payment would be made in November.

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“I continued calling him. He kept managing me, telling me they were handling security issues and that they would pay in November,” he added.

The witness said he became suspicious after repeated attempts to reach Adeyemi failed and later consulted a lawyer in Abuja.

“My lawyer was the first person who told me that I had been scammed,” he told the committee.

He disclosed that his lawyer petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on November 13, 2025, and that he adopted the petition six days later.

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“The petition was written on the 13th, and I was invited to adopt it on the 19th,” he said.

He added that investigators later informed him that Adeyemi repeatedly failed to honour invitations from the EFCC, allegedly citing ill health through his lawyer.

“Since then, the EFCC has been trying to invite him. I think he has been sending his lawyer. According to the Investigating Police Officer handling the case, his lawyer kept saying he would appear.

“Since then, I have not heard anything further, but they are on top of the matter. The EFCC will be in the best position to handle the rest,” Collins said.

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Appealing to lawmakers, the businessman said the incident had ruined his business and forced him to dispose of personal assets.

“I just want to beg the Chairman and the honourable members to help me talk to all the agencies involved because I have been frustrated, especially by those people who gave me the money. I have started selling my property. My business is not going well again,” he lamented.

He maintained that he acted in good faith because everything surrounding Adeyemi suggested he was dealing with a genuine government official.

“I did all this based on trust. When I went to his office, I met a lot of big dignitaries there, people waiting to see him and people he was discussing contracts with. I also did it because he is from my hometown,” Collins said.

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During the hearing, committee chairman Yusuf Gagdi asked Collins whether the N400m amounted to a bribe paid to secure the contract.

The witness rejected the suggestion, insisting that the payment was presented to him as a prerequisite for facilitating and mobilising the contract.

Lawmakers also asked whether he complied with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act before accepting the purported contract.

Collins admitted that he did not follow any formal procurement process.

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“What I just have to say is to beg the committee, or to implore the committee, to please, in all their capacity, whatever they can use to assist me with the police that are investigating him because I was invited to the Cybercrime office. He said the same thing, that he did not deny collecting the N400m,” he told lawmakers.

He also confirmed that the money was never converted to United States dollars before it was transferred.

Responding to questions over Adeyemi’s absence from the public hearing, the committee chairman, Gagdi, disclosed that lawmakers would question Adeyemi at an undisclosed date and location to avoid interfering with ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the police.

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