ABUJA: The Cross River State Government has solicited support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to build an edifice to house all practical skills for its state-owned university of Education and Entrepreneurship. The state governor, Bassey Otu, who appealed during a visit to TETFund on Wednesday in Abuja, stressed the importance of human capital development in confronting challenges of underdevelopment, poverty, and unemployment.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Otu commended the Fund under the leadership of Arch. Sonny Echono for the visible infrastructural development in the country. He noted that the state requires support for its newly converted College of Education to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship where craftsmen, bricklayers, welders, and others will be trained. Otu emphasized the need for graduates to acquire practical skills alongside their academic qualifications.
In his response, Echono assured the governor of support, highlighting that such support is one of TETFund
‘s obligations to the states. He expressed the alignment of the initiative with the Fund’s objectives and assured the governor of flexibility in the guidelines and procedures for enlistment. Echono also mentioned the president’s directive to ensure every Nigerian child graduating from tertiary institutions has proficiency in ICT and technology skills.
Echono further elaborated on the importance of making the right investments and revising the curriculum to produce graduates who are equipped with the necessary skills to be global citizens. He emphasized that these graduates should be able to work from anywhere and for any organization, underscoring the need for a comprehensive educational approach.