Senate, on Wednesday passed for seconds reading, a bill to establish Federal College of Vocational and Technical Studies, Naka in Benue State.
This followed the consideration of the the bill to that effect sponsored by Senator Titus Zam (APC Benue North West), during plenary.
Leading debate on the general principles of the document, he said the establishment of the institute would promote innovative learning opportunities in myriad areas like “bricklaying, electrical installations ,plastering ,roofing, plumbing , painting,cooling systems/refrigeration ,carpentry, steel fabrications, welding, among others.”
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“It is noteworthy to mention that there is a high rate of unemployment in the country. And if Nigeria is desirous of combating the menace, we must ,as matter of priority ,encourage technical skills acquisition as it is done in other jurisdictions to ensure that we align with global paradigm shift ,especially now that AI is taking over human activities in the white-collar jobs.
“This is paramount as it will go a long way to check youth restiveness and other social vices in the country ,thereby reducing insecurity,” he stressed
According to him, acquisition of vocational and technical skills is a major requirement for economic viability and development of any given nation.
“The establishment of this college will afford the teaming youths of this country who are unemployed ,the advantage of the available opportunity to acquire the requisite skills in order to contribute their quota to national development.”
Senator Zam pointed out that the bill demonstrates the renewed commitment to improve career and technical education when signed into law.
In his contribution, Senator Emmanuel Udende said the desire and need to acquire knowledge cannot be over emphasized, stressing that the establishment of such institute would create an atmosphere of peace, development and security across the country and Benue in particular .
Senator Udende pointed out that aside the federal presence, specialized knowledge; the institute will create jobs and bring bring development to the area.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, after the bill scaled second reading, referred it to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund for further legislative actions and to report back in four weeks.