Amid the high unemployment rate in the country, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District has rallied Nigerians to key into the ideals of the National Business and Technical Education Examinations Board, NABTEB.
Wamakko, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, stated this on Saturday at the NABTEB office in Sokoto.
While harping on the gains of technical and vocational education, the Senator said it was the surest way towards reducing the unemployment rate in the country.
Wamakko, a former Governor of Sokoto state, said his donation of a fully furnished office complex to NABTEB was a demonstration of his long-standing commitment to promoting technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
He further described it as the beginning of a partnership that will yield tremendous benefits for technical and vocational education in Nigeria.
“The only sustainable way to empower people is to give them skills. You can give a man money or food, but if you give him a skill, you have given him a future,” he stated.
He noted that empowering young Nigerians with practical skills was the surest way to tackle unemployment, poverty, and underdevelopment.
“NABTEB sets the standards for business, technical, and vocational education. By supporting NABTEB, we are directly supporting Nigeria’s future workforce and productivity,” he said.
He pledged to mobilise other lawmakers, former governors, and business leaders to support NABTEB’s mission.
“I will continue to stand by NABTEB to ensure it has the facilities and resources needed to fulfill its mandate,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the Board, NABTEB’s Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, described Wamakko’s action as a monumental act of patriotism and a testament to his visionary leadership.
He said Senator Wamakko had shown that true leadership is not about position but about impact, stressing that it would greatly enhance NABTEB’s operational capacity by improving administrative efficiency.
He also called on other well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest in the nation’s education sector.
“The government alone cannot do it. The future of technical and vocational education depends on collective effort and sustained investment,” Mohammed said.
The ceremony, attended by government officials, traditional leaders, education stakeholders, and community members, was held at the new NABTEB office complex in Sokoto.
Wamakko’s effort is expected to significantly strengthen NABTEB’s presence in Northern Nigeria and support its goal of producing a skilled and self-reliant workforce capable of driving industrial and economic growth.
