By Yunusa Isa

Gombe State Commissioner for Education Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari has charged technical teachers in the Northeast to embrace digital skills, pedagogy, and modern trade strategies to stay relevant in today’s teaching profession.

Maigari spoke at the end of a three-week training workshop for technical teachers from the six states of the Northeast geopolitical zone. The Federal Ministry of Education organized the workshop in collaboration with the World Bank.

“As teachers, we have to equip ourselves, think outside the box, and lead the way to remain relevant and impact our students positively,” Maigari said.

The Commissioner said Gombe has invested heavily in education and the industrial sectors. “Our technical teachers, students, and experts are the ones to man the emerging industries in our newly established Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, Daɗinkowa,” she maintained.

Maigari urged the participants to stay up-to-date with digital skills, think innovatively, and diversify by monetizing their skills across various entrepreneurial spheres.

She appreciated the organizers and stakeholders for choosing Gombe to host the training and for ensuring its success.

In her address, National Project Coordinator Mrs. Blessing Ogwu, represented by Dr. Ana Madziga, urged the technical teachers to put their acquired digital literacy skills to use.

Ogwu encouraged them to learn new methods of impacting knowledge on students for effective delivery.

She appreciated the Gombe State Government, the IDEAS unit in the state, and the FCE (T) Gombe for the successful hosting of the three-week training.

In his welcome address, State Project Coordinator IDEAS, Aminu Shehu, expressed confidence in the participants’ capacity to bring about the desired change, having undergone pedagogical training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other digital skills.

While taking the participants through the project overview, Mr. Anthony Okwa Aboki, IDEAS’s Director of Human Resources, noted a severe shortage of technical teachers in the country. He said many available teachers lack training, highlighting the need for the IDEAS Project to revive the sector.

Encouraging the participants on modern skills, Aboki stressed the importance of always prioritizing safety in their workshops.

In their respective goodwill messages, the Provost FCE (Technical) Gombe Dr. Ali Adamu Boɗeri, represented by his deputy Malam Sule Goɗi, said the 231 technical teachers trained came from across the six North Eastern states. He encouraged them not to wait for government jobs but utilize their skills to create new jobs by adapting to the changing world.

The Director of Vocational Education, Yobe State, the Special Advisor to Gombe State Governor on Donor and Development Partners Coordination Dr. Ishiyaku Babayo, and Dr. Gazali Muhammad, Director of Consultancy Services FCE (T) Gombe, urged the teachers to cascade the knowledge down to their students. They commended the conduct of the trainees throughout the three-week period.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Peter Sulaiman appreciated the IDEAS Project and the organizers for the training, assuring them that they would step down the knowledge gained.

The participants described the training as the most enriching they had ever attended, acknowledging that they were well-equipped.

They however appealed to governments at all level to provide technical schools and colleges with adequate and modern facilities and equipment suitable for the 21st century.

In a vote of thanks, Dr. Celestine Okoye appreciated the contribution of all stakeholders who made the training a success.

Dignitaries at the event inspected the items produced by the trainees, as certificates were issued to the participants at the end of the training.