The House of Representatives Committee on Alternative Education has concluded its public hearing on a bill proposing the establishment of the South East Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies in Umuobom, Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State.
Following the hearing, the House is expected to move to the third reading of the bill, which aims to create a technical institute focused on nurturing innovation, advancing entrepreneurship, and developing vocational skills across the South East geopolitical zone.
The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, representing Ideato Federal Constituency, said the proposed institution is designed to drive skills acquisition, creativity, and innovation — the key engines of economic growth and social transformation.
Speaking during the public hearing, Ugochinyere outlined his vision for the institute as a catalyst for change in the region. “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,” he said.
He explained that the bill seeks to establish a federal institute that will equip young Nigerians with practical, technical, and entrepreneurial skills, while serving as a hub for innovation, research, and enterprise development. The institution, he said, would also address unemployment and insecurity by creating viable pathways to sustainable jobs and businesses.
Ugochinyere described unemployment as one of the greatest threats to the nation’s stability, noting that the lack of economic opportunity often fuels insecurity and social unrest. “When a young man or woman is given a skill, a career, or a business, it doesn’t just change that individual’s life; it transforms a family, a community, and ultimately the nation,” he said.
Highlighting the region’s potential, he praised the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the people of the South East, describing them as some of the most industrious in Africa. He also referenced global recognition of the traditional Igbo apprenticeship system, noting that institutions such as Harvard University and other international think tanks have begun studying it as a model for grassroots entrepreneurship and innovation.
