Nigeria must broaden its education priorities beyond university degrees and equip young people with technical and vocational skills that lead to employment, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has said.
The former Edo State governor made the call during a Senate debate on the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, October 20.
Oshiomhole said the goal of education should include ensuring that every citizen receives sound basic education, alongside opportunities to acquire practical skills suited to their abilities and the needs of employers.
“There is no country that seeks to make sure that every citizen is a graduate. But every country seeks to ensure that every citizen has sound basic education,” he said.
He cited difficulties in recruiting electricians and chefs as examples of gaps in Nigeria’s skilled workforce, arguing that technical training could open employment opportunities for young people.
“Today, as I’m in Abuja, go through some of the construction companies. They will tell you they have vacancy for electricians, there is none. Sir, ambassadors told me they are looking for chefs, they can’t find,” he said.
The senator stressed that his position was not opposition to university education. Rather, he called for greater recognition of practical competence and the different educational pathways through which people can build successful careers.
According to him, a strong foundation in basic education can enable young people to pursue specialised technical training and earn a sustainable living.
“So, if a man or a woman has that basic education, he can veer into this other technical area, which in the end may even equip them to earn more money than what you earn,” he said.
His intervention highlighted the need to strengthen links between schooling, skills development and employment, while recognising vocational training as a credible route to economic opportunity.
For secondary education, the debate also underlines the importance of career guidance that introduces students to universities, polytechnics, technical colleges, vocational institutes and apprenticeships, helping them make informed choices about their future.
