Vocational Technology Education as a Veritable Pathway to Driving the Nigerian Economy
Keywords:
Vocational Technology Education, Youth Unemployment, Industrialization, Technical Skills, Economic DevelopmentAbstract
The Nigerian economy is characterized by a number of challenges such as high levels of youth unemployment,poverty, industrialization, and overdependence on oil money. Vocational Technology Education (VTE) can provide a transformative solution to the deficiencies of the Nigerian economy. This article, therefore, discusses the conceptual underpinnings of vocational technology, the Nigerian economic scenario, and the role of technical and vocational education and training in the development of the Nigerian economy. This discussion is important given the challenges facing the Nigerian economy. Based on the findings of empirical studies carried out on the role of technical and vocational education and training in the development of the Nigerian economy, this article identifies the challenges facing the effective implementation of vocational technology education. The challenges facing the effective implementation of VTE are identified as inadequate finance, poor infrastructure, obsolescence of the curriculum, and stigmatization. This article recommends strategic steps to be taken to address the challenges facing the effective implementation of VTE. This article concludes that the Nigerian economy can benefit significantly from the effective implementation of vocational technology education.
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