By Leonard Okachie
The Abia government has performed a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of modern technical workshops at Government Technical College (GTC), Aba.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was launched under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project, a World Bank-assisted initiative.
The project is aimed at improving the Technical and Vocational Education Training System in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Goodluck Ubochi, said that the initiative reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to education.
Ubochi said that the IDEAS Project aligned with Governor Alex Otti’s visionary leadership of prioritising access to quality education at all levels.
“By supporting technical and vocational education, we are not only complementing the governor’s education agenda but also ensuring that our young people acquire the skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive market.
“These workshops will stand as proof of our governor’s belief that education must translate into employability, self-reliance, and dignity of every child,” he said.
The IDEAS Project Coordinator, Mr Damian Ijeoma, said that the site had been cleared for the first-of-its-kind project in the state, adding that the training would focus on auto mechanics and gas conversion.
Ijeoma said that the students would be enrolled in Senior Secondary School (SS) 1 class, noting that the workshop would serve the public for the repair of their vehicles.
In his remarks, the National Project Coordinating Unit of the project, Dr Daniel Oghojafor, said that it would deliver the best in terms of quality assurance.
Oghojafor commended the state government for its level of diligence and commitment to education, adding that the project, beyond giving a good ecosystem, would have a multiplier effect on the host community.
In response, the Principal of the school, Mr Godwin Nwaoru, expressed gratitude that the project was sited in the school.
Nwaoru said that the workshop would play a vital role in molding the beneficiaries. According to him, technical education is an integration of classroom, workshop, and laboratory experience.(NAN)
