Kwara Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called for massive investment vocational education to make the country a net exporter of skills rather than importing manpower.

Governor Ahmed made the call when he received the Team Leader and Director of Logistics, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Commodore Sunday Olakunle Obadina, at the Government House, Ilorin.

The governor who expressed concern over the heavy reliance on skills from West African sub-region in construction, tiling and fittings said Nigeria has no business sourcing for labour from any other country.

He advised government at all levels to do more in empowering and training youth on hands-on with a view to exporting strong workforce to different parts of the world.

Dr Ahmed stressed the need to declare a sense of urgency on human capital development, particularly education, saying that the strength of any nation lies on its level and quality of education.

“Let me re-emphasis that there’s to review the nation’s education in context of current reality by making basic education free and compulsory across the country,” the governor said.

Governor Ahmed commended the Army Forces for allowing the study tour to acquaint officers of the forces with issues in the country.

Speaking earlier, the Team Leader and Director of Logistics, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Commodore Sunday Obadina had intimated the governor that the team comprising officers of the Armed Forces and foreign allied students was on study tour of the state.

He noted that the visit which was purely academic was to get the officers familiar with socioeconomic issues across the country.

Air Commodore Obadina noted nine teams were in nine states of the federation with the theme, “Nigeria education and national development”.

He explained that the theme was chosen as part of the College’s effort to enhance education of the youth and make them employable.