By Amaka Abayomi

The Principal of King’s College, Lagos, Otunba Dele Olapeju, has said Nigeria’s quest to be among the top 20 developed countries in year 2020 will become a reality if adequate attention can be paid to technical education.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning on the place of technical education in national development, Olapeju said there is a lot Nigeria can copy from the Asian Tigers who achieved economic development through the acquisition of technical education.

“Nigeria has one of the best policies on technical education but still pays lip service to it. The importance of technical education can’t be over emphasised as the middle level manpower need vocational and skills training in formal settings.
“The Asian Tigers are where they are today because they didn’t relegate technical education to the background. For Nigeria to realise her vision of 20:20:20, there is need to revisit the technical education policy.”

Pointing out that King’s College engages in technical education within its resource limits, Olapeju said the school promotes practices technical education by encouraging its students to keep a fish pond and partner with a bakery and meat shop. He added that the school would soon launch its packaged water outlet.

The education expert urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the education sector.
“There is a lot of public confidence on unity schools, making it important for government to recruit teachers based on quality not quantity so as to fill the available spaces and allow for continuity.”

“This is because more than 80 per cent of unity schools’ staff is aging and there is no succession plan, so the experiences would go with them.”