The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, secured the approval and support of the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN, to enhance collaborations on key initiatives of mutual interest.
This was confirmed during an official visit to the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The visit underscores the commitment of both entities to fostering the development of engineering education and practice in Nigeria.
During the meeting, NSE President emphasized the critical need for partnership with the Ministry to plan and execute a national summit focused on revitalizing the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Nigeria. She stressed that TVET is essential for sustainable industrial and economic development and highlighted the NSE’s plan to reinvigorate the Junior Engineers, Technologists, and Scientists (JETS) Club in secondary schools through national competitions. The NSE President sought the Ministry’s endorsement to provide the necessary ministerial backing for these initiatives and proposed NSE representation on the NUC and NBTE Boards to aid curriculum review and updates.
In response, the Hon. Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN, wholeheartedly agreed to all of NSE’s requests. He acknowledged the importance of engineering to the Ministry’s mission and noted that the Ministry was already addressing many of the areas NSE proposed for collaboration, including the revitalization of JETS Clubs and the TVET initiative.
Prof. Mamman highlighted the Ministry’s new policy integrating skills acquisition with formal education from primary to tertiary levels to produce industry-ready professionals. He also mentioned the establishment of the National Council on Skills Acquisition, chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria, and welcomed NSE representation on the Council.
Prof. Mamman concluded by approving the formation of a joint working committee between NSE and the Ministry of Education to develop the partnership framework. The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, mni, OON, and the Deputy President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Ali Rabiu, MFR, FNSE, among others.
The collaboration is expected to yield significant benefits for the engineering profession and the educational sector in Nigeria.