•House of Representatives
The House of Representatives on Monday conducted a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the South East Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies in Umuobom, Ideato Federal Constituency, Imo State.
Sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, the proposed legislation aims to create a federal institute focused on nurturing innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and equipping young Nigerians with practical vocational skills relevant to modern industry and technology.
The session, organised by the House Committee on Alternative Education, provided a platform for stakeholders to present their views and recommendations on the bill, reports Daily Independent.
After the committee’s review and adoption of stakeholder inputs, it is expected to present its report to the House for consideration at plenary before the bill proceeds to third reading.
In his remarks, Hon. Ugochinyere described the bill as a vision for a new Nigeria, one that prioritises skills, innovation, and creativity over paper qualifications.
He stressed that the proposed institute is both an act of justice and equity, noting that despite the Southeast’s immense economic contributions, the region remains underrepresented in terms of federal educational projects.
According to him, locating the institute in Imo State will send a strong signal of the federal government’s commitment to balanced and inclusive national development. He urged lawmakers and stakeholders to rally behind the proposal, saying it represents a major step towards bridging educational and economic gaps in the region.
“This bill is about building the Nigeria of our dreams, a nation where certificates no longer define success, but where skills, innovation, and creativity power our shared prosperity,” Ugochinyere said.
“It’s more than a legislative proposal; it’s a vision of hope, of a Southeast, and indeed a Nigeria, where young people are defined not by unemployment or insecurity, but by enterprise, productivity, and innovation.”
He described the proposed institute as more than just a physical structure, calling it “a factory of ideas, a hub of creativity, and a launchpad for future innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals.”
The lawmaker noted that unemployment remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s stability and development, warning that idle youth are often drawn into crime and social unrest. “When a young man or woman acquires a skill or starts a business, it transforms not only that person’s life but also their family, community, and the entire nation,” he added.
Highlighting the Southeast’s entrepreneurial heritage, Ugochinyere praised the Igbo apprenticeship system, which global institutions like Harvard University have recognized as one of the most effective grassroots entrepreneurship models in history. He envisioned the institute as a platform to blend that indigenous system with modern technology, research, and international collaboration.
“With the right training and innovation, we won’t just be creating jobs, we’ll be building industries. We won’t just be generating income, we’ll be laying the foundation for sustainable prosperity,” he stated.
He emphasised that the institute, though located in the Southeast, is a national project designed to address a nationwide challenge. “Youth unemployment is not an Igbo, Hausa, or Yoruba problem, it is a Nigerian problem. This bill provides a Nigerian solution: empower the youth and secure the nation.”
Citing global examples from Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, Ugochinyere underscored the importance of technical and vocational education in driving industrial and economic transformation.
“Universities alone cannot sustain industrial growth,” he said.
“Entrepreneurship, innovation, and technical expertise are the backbone of every prosperous nation. Through this bill, Nigeria can join the ranks of countries that have harnessed skills to power peace, growth, and national progress.”
He concluded by urging bipartisan support for the bill, describing it as a collective investment in the country’s future.
“In passing this bill, we’re not just creating another federal school, we’re building a future where every Nigerian youth can rise, where skills take precedence over paper qualifications, and where innovation fuels national prosperity.”
