The House of Representatives has taken steps to boost technical and entrepreneurial skills development in Nigeria’s South-East region with a bill seeking to establish the South-East Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies in Umuobom, Ideato Federal Constituency, Imo State.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, aims to create a federal institution dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and technical capacity in line with modern economic demands.
At a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Alternative Education, stakeholders presented their inputs and recommendations as part of the legislative process before the bill proceeds to third reading.
Speaking during the session, Ugochinyere described the proposed institute as a “bold step toward building the Nigeria we dream of a nation where certificates alone no longer determine success, but where skills, creativity, and innovation become the engine of prosperity.”
He said the initiative is both a development effort and a matter of equity, stressing that the South-East, despite its huge contribution to Nigeria’s economy, remains underserved in federal educational and entrepreneurial investments.
“The bill to establish the South-East Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies is about building the Nigeria we dream of one defined by innovation, enterprise, and productivity,” Ugochinyere said. “This institute will not be another structure of blocks and bricks; it will be a factory of ideas, a hub of creativity, and a launchpad for future business leaders, innovators, and skilled professionals.”
According to the lawmaker, the proposed institute will equip young Nigerians with practical, technical, and entrepreneurial skills; promote innovation and research; and create pathways to sustainable employment and enterprise growth.
He also highlighted the global recognition of the Igbo apprenticeship system as a model for grassroots entrepreneurship, noting that integrating such indigenous systems with modern vocational training would transform not only the South-East but the entire country.
Ugochinyere further explained that locating the institute in Imo State underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and balanced development.
He urged his colleagues and relevant agencies to support the bill, adding that countries such as Germany and Japan achieved industrial growth by prioritising vocational and technical education.
“The establishment of this institute,” he said, “will mark a turning point for the South-East, helping to rebuild the region’s socio-economic foundation and giving hope to a generation eager for opportunities.”
