The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris , has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education in Nigeria, stressing the need to prioritize skills over paper qualifications.
The Minister gave this assurance when he received the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Mohammed Bugaje, and executives of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, led by its Chairperson, Hajiya Fatima Haliru, in Abuja.
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Idris described the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) as a game-changer for professionals who have acquired expertise through hands-on experience but lack formal certification.
“The message is clear: skills, not just degrees, will define the future of our workforce. Many of our young people are already talented in areas like photography, cinematography, and digital services.
What this framework does is give them the recognition they deserve, opening pathways for higher training, employment, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
He further pledged that the Ministry would collaborate with the NBTE and the Council to ensure standardization and certification of skills within the creative sector, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Idris also assured that the Ministry will continue to partner with stakeholders across the broadcast, advertising, and information sectors to raise professional standards, unlock economic opportunities, and empower Nigeria’s youth.
Responding, Prof. Bugaje commended the Ministry for championing the Renewed Hope Agenda and repositioning the information sector.
He noted that the Creative Media Sector Skills Council, established only seven months ago as Nigeria’s 20th sectoral council, has already developed 24 new qualifications in areas such as audio production, content creation, and photography.
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Bugaje emphasized that the RPL scheme is designed to certify informally trained professionals, including apprentices in media and broadcasting, by awarding them nationally recognized NSQ certificates.
On her part, Hajiya Fatima stressed that the Council, with over 70 percent private-sector participation, is aligning with global best practices to ensure industry-driven skill development.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information DG’s of NTA, FRCN), VON,ARCON, MD NAN and the President of RATTAWU.