IMPORTANCE OF SKILLS ACQUISITION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPEMENT

Reference  states that the impacts of economic calamity on nations depend on their level of development and effectiveness. Nigeria needs people who are skilled in modern agriculture methods to handle the use of modern equipment, new techniques in seed planting, land cultivation, harvesting and storage. These people will ensure that adequate food is produced for Nigerian’s increasing population.

Nigerian is rapidly expanding her roads network system to improve the movement of goods and services. Such construction jobs require not only expert and dedicated workers, but skilled technicians who are able to operate and service the heavy duty equipment used in road construction. Modern industries are being established in all parts of the country. These industries need skilled and well-trained workers to ensure that goods manufactured in Nigeria are as good as those manufactured in other parts of the world.

People need skills to operate and administered government and industrial operations. The expansions of both the public and private sectors in Nigeria means that more skilled workers in office management, accounting, typing and short-hand are required to ensure that accurate records are kept and that administrative efficiency is maintained. Nigeria roads are full of all kinds of vehicles which assist in the economic development of the country by ensuring that goods and services are moved quickly and safely from one part of the country to another. These vehicles need efficient operatives and skilled technicians to ensure that they are operated safely and that their useful life is extended.

Skill acquisition is needed in the education sector. It contributes to the development of the nation’s human capital and is seen as essential for preparing one for employment. Thus an educated man is expected to manifest worthwhile disposition in the society, for his own development and the development of the society. Reference share the view that the productive capacity of any nation depends solely on her ability to recognize the capacity of manpower. The development of ideas, science advancement, technological breakthrough, economic development, political stability, e.t.c, is made possible by educational theories and practices.

Whatever the skill, attitudes, competencies, knowledge and understanding one acquires will enhance the development of the individual and the nation. According to , one of the goals of education is the acquisition of appropriate skills and the development of mental, physical and social abilities and competencies as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the development of his society. Reference  submits that;

‘we need skilled personnel who will be enterprising and self reliant. We need skilled people who can understand and adapts to changes in the increasing complexity of technology. We need people who can apply scientific knowledge to the improvement and as solution to environmental challenges for the use and conveniences of man’.