Information Minister lauds NBTE for advancing skills development in creative media
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has commended the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for its role in promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria, particularly through the creation of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council.
The Minister gave the commendation in Abuja on Tuesday when the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Bugaje, and members of the newly inaugurated Council paid him a courtesy visit. He described the Council as a crucial initiative to address the skills gap in Nigeria’s fast-growing creative media industry.
“I commend the NBTE for its tireless efforts, especially through the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework. The inauguration of the Creative Media Sector Skills Council brings together key private and public players to bridge the talent-certification gap in this dynamic sector,” the Minister said.
Idris emphasized that the Council will strengthen the country’s media landscape by creating pathways for structured training and certification, adding that this will also enhance media literacy, combat misinformation, and project a positive national image.
He assured the Council of the Ministry’s support in developing occupational standards across digital services, photography, cinematography, and other creative fields, aligning the initiative with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on skills and technology development.
Highlighting government efforts in youth development, the Minister cited the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has provided tuition and stipends to over 500,000 tertiary students, easing financial burdens on Nigerian families.
In his remarks, Prof. Bugaje highlighted the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative aimed at certifying informally trained media professionals with nationally recognized qualifications under the NSQ framework. A member of the Council, Hajiya Fatima, added that over 70% of the Council’s composition is drawn from the private sector, ensuring that industry needs drive skills development in line with global best practices.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Chinasa Ogbodo; the Director General of the NTA, Malam Abdulhameed Dembos; the DG of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Bulama; the DG of the Voice of Nigeria, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace; the DG of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo; and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali.
