Fubara Calls for Shift to Vocational, Technical Education

Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has advocated a strategic shift to Vocational and Technical Education, (VTE) in Nigeria’s educational curriculum, saying the overemphasis on paper qualifications at the expense of practical skills is contributing to unemployment and economic stagnation.

Governor Fubara stated this on Wednesday August 19, 2026 while commissioning three major infrastructure projects at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said deliberate and consistent efforts must be made to realign the nation’s educational curriculum towards practical skills capable of preparing young people for self-employment and job creation.

The Governor recalled that the 6-3-3-4 educational system adopted in Nigeria in the 1980s was designed to expose young Nigerians to vocational and technical education at the secondary school level.
According to him, students were expected to acquire a skill, trade or craft after their first three years of secondary education, while those who wished to pursue further education could proceed to polytechnics or universities based on their abilities and interests.

Governor Fubara, however, lamented that the country had gradually deviated from the original vision, with many young people becoming more interested in obtaining certificates and degrees without acquiring skills relevant to the contemporary labour market.

“The Polytechnic system was designed in such a way that if you’re gifted with your hands; if you’re a technical person, you can go there and learn more, build your skills so that you can add value to our society. But you know that somehow, our society don’t attach much importance to those level of people. So even when you know that you can’t survive the rigours of academic works, you put your head, struggle to make sure you complete the six years, jump into one university, and come out with one degree that is not useful. That is part of the problem we are having in our society.”

The Governor explained that the Entrepreneurship Centre at the polytechnic was conceived to provide young people with relevant skills that would enable them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers after graduation.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to executing projects that create opportunities, solve societal problems and improve the lives of citizens.

“So for us as a government, what is important to us is not just about embarking on projects but executing projects that will touch the lives of the people; projects that will solve problems and projects that will bring advancement to our lives.

Today, technology has taken over everything. So if we have to prepare our youths; if we have to prepare our dear state, for the challenge ahead, our educational programmes have to be very strategic,” he said.

Fubara also charged the management, students and members of the Polytechnic community to protect the newly commissioned facilities and equipment against theft and vandalism.

He urged them to take ownership of the infrastructure rather than regard them as government property.

The Governor further called on residents of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area to embrace the prevailing peace in Rivers State, stressing that political stability was essential for development.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Peter Nwagor said the projects included the construction and complete furnishing of two one-storey buildings for the School of Engineering and the Entrepreneurship Centre.
He said the buildings, each covering approximately 1,940 square metres, contain eight halls, 14 staff offices and 22 toilet facilities, with air-conditioning and equipment designed to support practical training.
Nwagor added that the third project, the Governing Council Building, was initiated by the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike but completed and fully furnished by the Fubara administration.

Meanwhile, the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Moses Neebee, described the projects as historic landmarks on the institution’s campus.
Neebee said the Entrepreneurship Centre and other facilities represent major developments at the Polytechnic in nearly two decades.

The projects, according to the state government, are part of its efforts to strengthen technical education and equip young people with practical skills for the demands of the modern economy.