Harnessing Technical Skills: Sule Provides Insights on Nasarawa Initiatives

By kure Tashilane

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, has highlighted the importance of effectively utilizing vocational skills to improve living standards and create alternative income sources, using his administration’s initiatives as a case study.

Governor Sule shared these insights during his keynote address at the first edition of a colloquium organized in his honor, titled *"Enhancing Education and Skills Acquisition."* The event took place on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Late Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall in Lafia, the state capital.

The colloquium, initiated by Engineer Rajab Kabir Ogiri, was themed *"Technical-Driven Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Unemployment and Catalyst for Growth."* The event featured world-renowned automobile industrial designer Jelani Aliyu as the guest speaker.

Governor Sule outlined how Nasarawa State has been committed to providing a practical and feasible roadmap for harnessing vocational skills acquired through professional training to improve the standard of living for the people of the state and the nation at large.

He emphasized that his administration has designed skills acquisition programs for both the young and old in the state. Institutions such as the Relevant Technology Schools in Lafia, Doma, and Mada-Station, as well as the Premier Technical Government College in Assakio, equip secondary school students with vocational skills at an early stage. Additionally, the Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic and the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute have been instrumental in providing advanced technical and vocational training to both young and older residents of the state.

Responding to a question posed during the colloquium—*"What do you do with vocational skills after acquiring them, and what is the role of federal and subnational governments in ensuring these skills are utilized?"*—Governor Sule explained:

"In Nasarawa State, as Professor Kucha has mentioned, we are not only providing these skills to the young but also to the elderly. We have retirees above the age of sixty, some of whom are as active as I am. Many people don’t even believe I am over sixty. These retirees are still strong and capable of contributing to society. It would be a waste to send them home after retirement without equipping them with skills. 

"So, for those civil servants who retired without any vocational skills, we bring them to the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia and train them in areas such as carpentry, electrical installation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. These individuals already have financial resources from their retirement benefits, which they can use to establish themselves," the Governor explained.

For retirees, the goal is to empower them to set up their own businesses after training, thereby becoming employers of labor. For younger individuals who have not yet entered the workforce, Governor Sule outlined two categories of support:

"The first category involves providing them with starter packs to help them begin their entrepreneurial journeys. For instance, if someone acquires welding skills, we provide them with a shielded metal arc welding machine or oxygen cylinders to set up a small welding shop. Unfortunately, some beneficiaries are not serious and end up selling the equipment provided. While this is a challenge, it does not deter us from continuing our efforts," he stated.

Governor Sule also shared an example of how the Dangote Group, during the construction of the world’s largest oil refinery, struggled to find certified welders in Nigeria and had to source 4,000 welders from India and China. The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, highlighted the need for skilled technicians in Nigeria.

He further noted that technicians in Nasarawa State are being trained to fill emerging job opportunities in companies such as Olam, Saro-Africa, Averter New Energy Materials, Jiuling Lithium Processing Plant, Dangote Sugar Refinery in Tunga, and Gangfeng Lithium Mining Company.

"We also have a tin mining company. After all the certifications, the next step is to seek employment in these companies. If you don’t take advantage of these opportunities, others will. For instance, the Jiuling Lithium Processing Company currently employs 800 people and is building one of the largest lithium processing plants in Endo, Nasarawa Local Government Area," the Governor added.

In his speech, guest speaker Jelani Aliyu, the renowned automobile industrial designer and former Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council during the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, expressed his honor at being part of such a significant event in Nasarawa State.

He praised Governor Sule’s political and administrative efforts in developing the state, stating:

"Your Excellency, your focus on uplifting lives, creating opportunities for parents and elders to add value, and bringing bread to the table is commendable. Empowering and inspiring the youth, who are not only future leaders but also integral to any serious society, is what truly matters."

Jelani shared his personal journey, recounting how his childhood dream of becoming a car designer led him to General Motors, where he was hired based on his skills rather than his academic certificates. He emphasized the importance of transforming one’s mindset through continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies.

"The common denominator has always been the human mind. What matters is how an individual can understand, learn, and apply knowledge to create solutions that improve lives. With the right mindset and the leveling effect of technology, what is achieved elsewhere can be replicated here. Nasarawa State, under Governor Sule’s leadership, is a convergence of visionary leadership and opportunities for the youth to upskill and thrive," Jelani stated.

He urged the youth of Nasarawa to commit to lifelong learning, which he described as the surest path to adding value to one’s life and the community.

During the colloquium, heads of tertiary institutions in the state also delivered goodwill messages. Representatives from Nasarawa State University, Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, and the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia spoke on the importance of technical education and skill acquisition in driving economic growth and reducing unemployment.