The Managing Director of Beautiful Beginning Academy, Dr. Rosemary Nasa-Okolie, has urged Federal and State Governments to prioritise investment in skills-based education to tackle youth unemployment and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Speaking during the school’s weekly skills acquisition programme in Abuja, Nasa-Okolie said functional education would equip young Nigerians with practical skills, reduce street begging, especially among almajiri children, and steer the youth away from societal vices.

During the programme, students were being trained in various vocational skills, including plumbing, tailoring, phone repairs, soap and perfume production, graphic design, among others.

She explained that the academy introduced skills training in response to the widening gap between formal education and practical application, which she said continues to limit the potential of Nigerian students.

She said: “The government is working. However, I’m pleading that it looks into the need of investing more in functional education as world over, it has been proven that skills acquisition and practicalizing afterwards is a driving force for every economy.

“That way, we will be able to mop up children from the streets and young adults so that they don’t waste their youthfulness in societal vices. This will benefit the country socioeconomically and there will be more plumbers, electricians, and skills. This is not what an individual can do. So well-meaning individuals can come together and make this difference.”

Nasa-Okolie called on parents to support their children’s career choices and avoid imposing personal aspirations on them.

She appealed for an end to the dichotomy between university and polytechnic qualifications, insisting that both should be recognised as equal in value.

On his part, the school’s Principal, Harry Essang, stressed the need for government enforcement of practical skill acquisition in schools.

“Most schools lack equipment and qualified personnel for vocational training. Government must go beyond theory and ensure schools are properly monitored and resourced to deliver hands-on education,” he said.

Essang added that until technical education is given proper recognition, Nigeria will continue to rely on foreign specialists for services that can be locally delivered.

Some students who participated in the skills acquisition programme commended the school management for the initiative, saying it gave them hope and confidence in building a future beyond certificates.