A group of 14 Ekiti State public servants that went on a 5-day study tour to Qatar under the World Bank assisted State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP) has called for a review of the social responsibilities of corporate institutions.
In a report submitted to the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi, the workers noted that corporate organisations including banks and GSM Service providers should make training and development of youths towards attaining self sustainability a priority as part of their social responsibilities.
The group which was led by the Executive Secretary of the Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Mrs. Akeredolu Abimbola consisted of 10 civil servants and four Technical school teachers.
Presenting their report, the group leader, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu stressed the need to make Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) free particularly at the secondary school level to encourage youth participation.
Mrs. Akeredolu added that graduates of Technical Colleges should be encouraged and mobilised to establish Cottage industries as part of efforts at reducing unemployment to a minimal level and boosting the economic base of the State.
Akeredolu said that the focus of the group was to seek out new skills and opportunities in vocational education and training that could empower young people for economic growth.
According to her, the study tour was to complement the drive of the State Government for sustainable quality of education and improved service delivery in the education sector.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi assured that government would study the report critically saying that “all machineries would be set in motion to ensure that all the recommendations were studied and put to use”.
Mr. Egunjobi said that government would continue to provide opportunities for its workforce to develop their potentials adding that the present administration would also maintain the thriving relationship the State was enjoying with development partners in order to derive all possible benefits derivable from the partnerships.
Packaged by Omotoyosi Jesuleye
