pannigeriannews 
By Gabriel Adisa
The Management of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Ogbomoso , Oyo State has organised a one-day sensitisation workshop on the National Skills Qualification (NSQ), Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and Mandatory Skills Qualification (MSQ) for Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Coordinators, Deputy Directors, and staff of the institution.
The workshop, held at the Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CVSAED), NDE Model Skills Centre, Onipaanu, Ogbomoso, was organised in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and JACL Consulting, Akure, Ondo State.
The Polytechnic had earlier organised a similar workshop for its students.
The programme was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of the NSQ, NSQF and MSQ, their alignment with industry needs, and the importance of skills acquisition as a pathway to self-reliance, employability and sustainable national development.
In her opening address, the acting Rector, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Temilola Morufat Adepoju, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Chairman of the Governing Council, Hon. Yakubu Dati, and the Federal Government for their continued support for the institution.
She commended the NBTE for, what she called, the invaluable contributions of the regulatory body, led by Prof. Idris Bugaje.
She also commended the pioneer Rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, and the pioneer Principal Officers for laying a solid foundation on which the institution continues to build.
According to Dr Adepojur, the National Skills Qualification Framework remains the bedrock of credible, industry-relevant and globally competitive vocational education and training.
She noted that the framework provides a comprehensive system for defining and recognising the knowledge, skills and competencies required for various occupations, adding that it offers practical solutions to Nigeria’s youth unemployment challenge and widening skills gap.
“The NSQ provides the compass we desperately need as a nation seeking to equip its workforce with relevant competencies for national growth and global competitiveness,” she said.
In his welcome address, the acting Director of the Centre for Vocational, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CVSAED), Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, appreciated the invited resource persons, Dr. John Onyebuchi, acting Director, South-West, NBTE and Dr. Julius Ayodele, of JACL Consulting, Akure, Òndó State for accepting the institution’s invitation to facilitate the workshop.
He also thanked the acting Rector, Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, staff and students for their support and cooperation towards advancing skills development in the Polytechnic.
Delivering the first lecture, Dr. John Onyebuchi emphasised that passion for personal development is the driving force behind entrepreneurship.
He urged participants to embrace skills acquisition, stressing that practical skills have become more valuable than financial resources alone.
“I encourage everyone to acquire a skill because skills are the driving force in today’s economy, not money,” he said.
In the second lecture, Dr. Julius Ayodele encouraged both academic and non-academic staff of the Polytechnic to enrol in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes to broaden their competencies and improve their career prospects.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would inspire greater participation in the institution’s entrepreneurship initiatives.
“I will be delighted to receive feedback from the Acting Director of CVSAED that many members of staff have enrolled in one or more of the entrepreneurship programmes,” he said.
With the acting Rector at workshop were Registrar, Mr. Akinlolu Akinpade; Bursar, Mr. Mufutau Alao represented by Deputy Bursar, Mr. Lukman Buari and acting Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. Dare Samuel Adeleke, represented by Dr. Mrs. Halimat Amuda, the institution’s Coirdinator for Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED).
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