LASTVEB Boss Canvasses Technical Education for Youths

Funmi Ogundare
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board(LASTVEB), Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo has stressed the need for parents to encourage their children to learn skills through technical education, so that it can earn them a decent living.

Erogbogbo who made this known, recently, during a media chat on advocacy for the board, enumerated the efforts of the state government in revitalising Technical and Vocational Educational , adding that students who go through its technical colleges are exposed to the industry practicals, tools and equipment.

According to her, “A lot is being done with the industries because it will bring about exposure and enlightenment for the students which will at the long run drive the economy. Capacity building will go along way in improving the system.”

She emphasised on its five technical colleges which activities the board monitors, regulates and supervises, adding that the government is making effort to build more in some parts of the state.
Erogbogbo expressed concern that the country depends more on expatriates for its construction industries saying, “we don’t want to contribute to the economy of foreign countries but to the development of our state. Technical and Vocational Education(TVE) is very important and critical for our economy. We must have passion for it and be focused.”

Since she came on board last year, she said the board saw the need to employ more instructors in its technical colleges so as to further improve teaching and learning, adding that the government has promised its readiness to improve on the structure and facilities.

“Technical colleges are regarded as the principal vocational institution in Lagos state because they are supposed to give full technical training intended to prepare the students for entry into various occupations at the craft level and at the same time prepare them well enough for admission into the tertiary institutions in various engineering, construction and business fields, ” the executive secretary stressed.

She emphasised on its partnership with various organisations noting that the board has gotten support from the states EKO secondary education project with the creation of centres of excellence in three technical colleges, partnership with NECA-ITF, global partnership with Dangote industries, Slot System Limited, Auto-Medics, Lonadek, among others.

Other supports Erogbogbo added included; capacity development programmes for practicing artisans in collaboration with the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment as well as Housing; Lagos State graduate vocational employability skills training programme and Enterprise day.