By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo
As the world celebrates the International Education Day 2026, themed “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education,” it is worthy to remember people who have done much in promoting education, helping youths to prosper and acquire education either for their time or for assisting with their own money for others to be learned.
A day like this is not just a day to speak about the achievements recorded in the education sector but to look backward and identify those people in our midst that made sacrifices in efforts to develop the education sector.
Nigeria will never forget people like Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi, Awolowo, Michael Okpara, Alvan Ikoku, Adekunle Ajasin and Ambrose Alli for their giant contributions in the education sector because they became they light that still shine our prosperous ways. These people tried as they could to make sure education strived and became the source of our educational foundation.
As the time goes on we have other good people who continue to lay a good foundation as our founding fathers. Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, Malam Aminu Kano, Malam Sa’adu Zungur, Chinua Achebe and Professor Wole Soyinka have done much in promoting education.
Still in this age people cannot forget to appreciate the magnificent contributions of Professor Idris M. Bugaje in all levels of education. He is a renowned researcher, a world famous chemical engineer that solved many problems with empirical investigation. Bugaje is a teacher, a lecturer and trainer of skills. His contributions in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) industry are unmeasurable in the field of formalizing the informal sector with the National Qualification Framework (NSQF).
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is an academic champion whose passion is to make NIgerians and Nigeria an employer of its citizens with skills.
The concept of the Skills not Degrees is to reawake the youths of Nigeria to join the labor markets even without formal education, and indeed the idea has drastically reduced unemployment in Nigeria, and also gave good opportunities to Nigerians to travel abroad in dignity for labor like other foreigners coming to Nigeria to work.
Bugaje is a visionary leader who has revolutionized TVET in Nigeria. He has been instrumental in repositioning polytechnic education in Nigeria. His tenure has seen the introduction of innovative initiatives, including the establishment of international collaborations with countries like China and Morocco to promote vocational training and employment.
Bugaje’s notable achievements include driving digital transformation through technology-driven accreditation and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into curriculum development. He has also launched the Nigerian Youth Skills Empowerment Programme (NYSE) to provide polytechnic graduates with advanced technical training and industrial placements in Europe. Additionally, he has created structured academic pathways to improve opportunities for HND holders and promoted agriculture-driven empowerment within the TVET system.
Bugaje’s leadership has earned him recognitions, including the 2024 Transformative Excellence award in TVET. His commitment to empowering Nigerian youths aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on skills development, job creation, and institutional synergy.
With these achievements and focus on renewing the hope of Nigerians with skills shift, Professor Idris M. Bugaje deserved recognition for his unwavering support to youth to co-create power in education.
Happy International Education Day!
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