Ondo State Deputy Governor Dr. Olayide Adelami has commended the federal government for integrating mandatory technical, vocational and entrepreneurship courses into tertiary institution curricula, saying the move equips graduates with the practical skills needed to thrive in today's economy. He made the remarks at the maiden convocation ceremony of the College of Technology, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, in Ondo City.
Background
Dr. Adelami said every student, regardless of academic level, needs to acquire some form of practical skill to function effectively in the modern world. He praised the Tinubu administration's efforts to reposition Nigeria's education sector toward producing graduates who are technologically skilled, innovative and globally competitive, pointing to the federal government's National Policy on Skills Development in Formal and Non-formal Education, which targets learners across all educational levels to combine academic learning with hands-on vocational and digital skills.
Details
The deputy governor described technical and vocational skills acquisition as a top priority of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration and noted that Ondo State has been the leading beneficiary of the College's graduates. He also commended the College's Rector, the Vice-Chancellor of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Professor Bayode Popoola, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Hajia Ganiyat Yusuf, for their roles in developing the institution.
In his own remarks, the Rector, Dr. Kehinde Adenegan, said the College was established to bridge the gap between education and industry through practical training, technology and entrepreneurship, adding that its goal is to produce graduates who create jobs rather than simply search for them. The College offers diploma programmes in fields including Software Engineering, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Content Creation and Digital Marketing, and Hardware Engineering and Maintenance.
The ceremony also featured a convocation lecture by Dr. Foluso Falaye titled "From Classroom to Industry: Harnessing Technology and Innovation to Drive Nigeria's Industrial Transformation," and included award presentations to distinguished attendees, among them community leader Sir Chief Ayo Akingbule.
Why It Matters
The event highlights a broader national push to close the gap between academic qualifications and workplace-ready skills, particularly in fast-growing fields like tech and digital services, at a time when graduate employability remains a pressing concern across Nigeria.
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