Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has announced a sweeping plan to overhaul technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across Borno State, in a bid to bridge the widening gap between education and industry demands.
The governor disclosed the new initiative during a presentation of a report by the Committee on Repositioning Technical and Vocational Education, held at the council chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri.
Zulum said the reform, which will be implemented across the state’s three senatorial zones, is focused on equipping young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that can drive economic growth and employment.
“The mismatch between our graduates and the labour market is deep,” the governor said. “If we want to address that, we must ensure that robust technical and vocational education is firmly established.”
He noted that although previous efforts have yielded some progress in youth skills development, they have not gone far enough.
“We have achieved a lot in providing vocational skills to our youth. However, we believe we are still not doing enough. That’s why we set up this committee to reposition technical and vocational education in Borno State,” Zulum added.
The committee’s chairman, Alhaji Goni Ibrahim, explained that the report was based on a series of site visits, consultations with key stakeholders, and comparative analysis of vocational education models from other regions.
In a related development, Governor Zulum also directed the Borno State Ministry of Education to explore the introduction of vocational training into Sangaya (Almajiri) schools. The move is part of a broader effort to expand access to practical education among marginalized and underserved groups.
“I have instructed the Commissioner of Education to liaise with the Executive Secretary of the Sangaya Education Board to consider introducing technical and vocational education in our Sangaya schools,” Zulum said.
He praised the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, for what he described as “commendable leadership” in advancing the state’s education sector.
The TVET overhaul forms a key part of Zulum’s administration’s strategy to reduce unemployment, combat youth restiveness, and build a resilient workforce capable of supporting the state’s long-term development agenda.