The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), ending more than five years without a governing board, unveiling fresh reforms to strengthen technical, vocational education across the country.

Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, charged the new board to accelerate reforms that will align technical education with industry demands, modernise curricula, certify skilled artisans, improve Nigeria's global competitiveness. He described the inauguration as a major milestone in the implementation of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa said the Federal Government is repositioning the education sector to produce highly skilled graduates capable of driving industrialisation, entrepreneurship, economic growth. He outlined key priorities for the board, including strengthening strategic leadership, implementing the Recognition of Prior Learning framework, promoting Industry 4.0-focused curricula, ensuring prudent management of public resources.

Responding on behalf of the board, Chairman Prof. Babatunde Salako thanked President Tinubu, the Minister of Education for the confidence reposed in the members, pledging to expand opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical skills while changing the perception of technical education as a second-choice pathway.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, described the inauguration as historic, noting that the agency had operated without a governing board for over five years. He expressed confidence that the new board would work closely with the Federal Ministry of Education to advance the government's technical, vocational education reform agenda.