Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has shared how his problem-solving abilities and technical expertise as a young certified welder and engineer earned him a job in the United States in the 1980s—without the need to present his certificates.
The governor explained that his vision for a skill-based knowledge for youths in the state is driven by his experience in the country, stressing that corporations achieve their goals with skilled workers, not certifications.
He was speaking at the inaugural Engr. Abdullahi Sule Colloquium in Lafia, with the theme “Technological-Driven Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Unemployment and Catalyst for Economic Growth and Development”.
Governor Sule highlighted the importance of advancing vocational education for development, urging students to acquire advanced skills.
He said: “When I was graduating from Government Technical College Bukulu in 1980, I got a scholarship to study at Indiana University in the US. Then I worked as a welder at night and attended school in the day time just to make money through skills I acquired.
“Throughout the period of my stay in the university as I worked in the night, and after graduation, the first job I got, nobody asked me to present any certificate. All they needed was my skills and my ability to do the job.”
He said his decision to build a state of the art facilities skills acquisition centre in Nasarawa State when he became governor stemmed from his experience in the US
He said government planned to train would-be retirees who were still agile with technical skills and financial support to invest in the skills acquired, adding that youths would be trained with starter packs for self-employment.
Jelani Aliyu, an international automotive designer, who was the guest speaker, tasked government to leverage on technology to grow economies, emphasising that continuous technological advancement is a catalyst to national development.
He charged African nations to encourage multilateral technology to canvass more attention around the globe, urging Nasarawa youths to be the future of the nation to make a difference in the world.
He commended the Sule-led administration’s focus on putting smiles on the citizens’ faces by enhancing their worth through skills and entrepreneurship development.
Earlier in a welcome address, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Labaran Magaji, expressed optimism in the colloquium’s ability to inspire youths on skills acquisition particularly in technology to shape their mindsets.
Magaji appreciated the initiators of the colloquium for coining the idea, believing it is an addition to the development drive of the present administration.
In their separate remarks, Acting Rector, Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, Dr. Nurudeen Mu’azu Maifata; Vice Chancellor, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman and the Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, charged youths to improve their knowledge with practical use of ideas to curb unemployment and corruption.
