By DAYO ADESULU

As skills-gap widens by theoretical education in the Nigerian education sector, students have been urged to resort to technical education to patch up skills-gap.

Speaking recently in a press briefing held in Lagos, where attention was centred on ‘Understanding the Need for Innovation Institution’ Mrs. Ngozi Odoh, Director PIIT, acknowledged that globally, the driving force of the economy is known to be Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“Presently, everything is going computer based, technical, digital, and from phone to android and ipads” she said.
She explained that when we talk about ICT we have  three broad things in mind which involves to connect using network infrastructure like Cisco, to innovate: looking at ICT skills development and to transform which draws on the use of ICT applications in specific sectors and contexts which institution has narrowed down into software and hardware as areas of skills acquisition.

Odoh said: “Students who studied professional courses like Engineering in tertiary institutions basically come out with theoretical knowledge with no emphasis on practical and technical aspects of the courses.

“This leaves a skill gap (which most times makes them unemployable or)when these people are employed.
“However we want them to (put in and) acquire in depth technical and hands-on training to equip them to be able to do that course better and this gives them leverage by the time they go into the industry.
Speaking further, she noted that PIIT covers multi disciplinary areas that will prepare learners for jobs in most industries with curricula that are in modules of employable skills.