Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Education has expressed satisfaction with the state government’s drive for technological advancement in the state.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Charles Chukwuemeke Emetulu stated this when he led members on an oversight visit to the State Ministry of Technical Education in Asaba, in continuation of oversight visits of the Committee to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs under its supervision.
Emetulu said Nigeria as a nation is desirous of technological advancement and pointed out that the government’s efforts in promoting technical education across the state were commendable and have placed Delta ahead of others in the community states.
“The immediate past administration in the state led by Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa invested so much in setting up technical schools across the state to revive technical knowledge and boost manpower shortly.
“I am very optimistic that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led government will consolidate on it as there is still much to be done to improve academic activities across the technical colleges.
“I must also commend state government’s desire to ensure that at least one technical college is established in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.
“As a Ministry, I encourage you to place your priorities right, while the Committee will give all the necessary support for you to succeed”, Emetulu said
The lawmakers stressed that the idea of technical education is to correct the errors of so much focus on theoretical knowledge and strengthen the technical know-how amongst the younger generation.
He said “The unending desire for certificates has remained a major concern in Nigeria.
“Most of the Chinese you see around working here in the state are not Engineers but Technicians.
“We must strengthen technical knowledge to align with the global economy”.
Emetulu who represents Ndokwa West Constituency and a former Commissioner for Energy and later Higher Education, commended huge investment in education in Delta State, even as he called for concerted effort in exploring all opportunities to ensure that young Deltans get the best from the technical colleges.
The Chairman, accompanied by some members of the committee including, Hon Emmanuel Sinebe, Matthew Omonade, Dafe Chukudi, Bridget Anyafulu, later took a guided tour of facilities at Model Technical College, Asaba.
They were conducted round by the Commissioner for Technical Education, Evang. Joan Onyemaechi, who had earlier while welcoming the Lawmakers to her office highlighted achievements and challenges faced in the Ministry.
Inspecting the various workshops and equipment at the Model Technical College, Asaba, the Chairman and members, expressed satisfaction with the quality of facilities readily available, adding that the committee will make frantic efforts in addressing the challenge of power supply to the school.
Emetulu commended the Commissioner and her team for their passion towards driving technical education in the state and tasked them to prioritize the challenges ahead of the upcoming budget to accommodate more funds for the sector.
On her part, Commissioner for Technical Education, Evang Joan Onyemaechi commended the Chairman and members of the House Committee on Education for their visit, promising to work closely with the legislators.
She called for more pragmatic efforts by all stakeholders to promote technological development in Delta State.
