History of NVA/AVTEN

Our History

The history of vocational education in Nigeria can be traced to the United State of America where most of the staff in the programme were trained. One of the earliest staff was Professor Obiora N. Agusiobo who later became the first Head of Department of vocational education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Thus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka became the first to mount vocational education programme in Nigeria.

Following the operations of the American vocational Association (AVA) where the programme was lifted, the Nigeria Vocational Association (NVA) was conceived. Thus, the NVA was originated and formed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the early 70’s after the Nigeria Civil War. Some of the actors prominent at the time were Prof. O.N. Agusiobo; Prof. S.O. Olaitan; Prof. R.N. Oranu; Prof. E.C. Osuala; Prof. J.U. Okorie; Prof. S.C.O.A. Ezeji; Prof. O. M. Okoro; Prof. N.J. Ogbazi; Prof. E.U. Anyakaoha and a host of others. The Association was one of the earliest academic associations formed in Nigeria after the civil war.

 

Aims and Objectives of the Association:

 

1. To promote activities that can enhance the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria.

2. To support initiatives for the provision of vocational and technical education and training in Nigeria.

3. To facilitate the dissemination of technical and vocational education and training information

4. To promote the development of technical and vocational education and training as a national enterprise

5. To organize free skills acquisition training throughout Nigeria

6. To organize international conference yearly and publish the proceedings (Journal), so as to promote and enhance the quality of vocational and technical education and its stake holders in Nigeria

One of the National Presidents of the association was Prof. E.C. Osuala and the association operated with vigour, waxing strong though was not registered with government. As a result of logistic issues there was a period of inactivity. This period of impasses however did not last long.

The reactivation of the association established University of Nigeria, Nsukka as the base and the national headquarter. Professor E. Agonmo and Professor T.N. Ogbuanya were the chief actors for the reactivation. Their efforts led to the NVA conference of 2011 organized by the Department of Vocational Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The conference restored the activities of the NVA. The theme of that conference was “Entrepreneurship Education in Vocational Education and the challenges of Youth Unemployment”. Professor A.E. Uzoagulu, Deputy Vice Chancellor (then), Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu delivered the key note Address while lead papers were presented by Dr M.A. Abelega, National Commission for Colleges of Education Abuja and Dr (Mrs) C.A. Njoku, Rector Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri.  The conference was held at UNN between Wednesday, 16^th November and Saturday 19^th November 2011. During the conference an election was held on Thursday, 17^th November 2011 and Professor P.E. Egbule emerged as the National President; Professor T.C. Ogbuanya, the National Secretary and Dr C.S. Anyomike, the National Treasurer. During the conference, the hosting right for the following year, 2012 was conceded to Delta State University Abraka. Thus, the first International Conference of AVTEN after the reactivation was held at Delsu Abraka in 2012 and it was well attended. Some AVTEN members were given ‘Fellows’ of the Association. In each of the conferences, AVTEN publishes one volume of its Journals in two numbers, 1 and 2.

 

Hosting of Conference

 

YEAR	HOST INSTITUTION	THEME	KEY NOTE PRESENTER
16th–19th Nov. 2011	University of Nigeria,  Nsukka	Entrepreneurship Education in Vocational Education and the challenges of Youth Unemployment	Prof. A.E. Uzoagulu Deputy Vice Chancellor ESUT, Enugu.
24th -28th July 2012	Delta State University Abraka	Achieving sustainable National Economy Through Vocational Education	Prof. Longmas Sambo Wapmuk Director General/CEO ITF Jos
24th – 27th July 2013	University of Uyo, Uyo	Re-Engineering Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Towards Capacity Building for sustainable Development	Dr. Maaudu A. Kazaure Ex Sec, NBTE Kaduna
28th 31st Oct. 2014	University of Agriculture, Makurdi	Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for sustainable Human Security and National Development	Prof. N.J. Ogbazi Faculty of Education UNN
5th -8th August 2015	Yaba College of Technology, Yaba Lagos	Partnership in TVET for National Development	Prof. Olu Aina, ICPC Abuja
8th -11th June 2016	Taraba State University, Jalingo	TVET and Job creation for National Development	Engr. Prof. Bobboi Umar Rector, Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola
13th -16th June 2017	University of Calabar, Calabar	Repositioning Technical and Vocational Education for Post-Oil Boom Economy	Prof. Bappa Aliyu Mohammadu Ex. Sec NCCE Abuja
24TH -27TH July 2018	Fed College of Education, Technical Gombe	Best practices in TVET Delivery for National Development	Prof. Victor Mbarika, ICT University, Louisiana, USA.
23rd -27th July 2019	Ebonyi State University Abakaliki	Curriculum Reforms in TVET for Global competitiveness	Prof. A.U. Onyia, Director, Enugu Study Centre, National Open University

The hosting of AVTEN International Conference has been arranged to rotate along Nigerian six Geo-political Zones, namely North-West, North Central, North East, South West, South-South and South East.

        In 2017, the hosting institution was University of Calabar. The President, Prof. Patrick E. Egbule and his Exco members completed their two tenures of 3 years each (ie 6 years) in the office and they called for election according to the constitution of AVTEN. An election therefore was conducted and the  returning officer was the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Alfred O. Ochu of the University of Agric, Makurdi. At the end of the election, Prof. A.E. Uzoagulu emerged as the AVTEN National President, Prof. Cyril Ubale, the National Secretary and Dr. Agnes L. Okute National Treasurer.

 

Registration of the Association

Nigerian Vocational Association, NVA, was not registrable with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, because of “Nigeria” in the name and registering any association with Nigeria attached will require an act of parliament (National Assembly) passing a bill for  that purpose. So, necessity brought AVTEN-Association of Vocational and Technical Educators of Nigeria.

        The Affidavit for the change from NVA to AVTEN was sworn on the 24^th day of May 2017. The Association, AVTEN was registered under the common seal of Corporate Affairs Commission CAC on the 24^th day of August 2017 with Registration Number CAC/IT/NO 90168 authenticated by eight Trustee members of AVTEN. So the two names, NVA and AVTEN are still relevant to the Association. Professor Patrick E. Egbule labored to see AVTEN registered.

 

Constitution of the AVTEN

The constitution of the Association of Vocational and Technical Educators of Nigeria was prepared by Okolie Esther Uchechukwu, ESQ and was certified on 25^th August 2016 and signed by AVTEN President and General Secretary.

        The history is to be updated from time to time as events unfold.