By Aaron Ossai
The House of Representatives held 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 Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North and South, the bill proposes a federal institution dedicated to harnessing innovative talent, advancing entrepreneurship, and developing vocational skills aligned with modern business and technology demands in the South East.
At the public hearing, stakeholders gathered to make input on the bill, as well as suggest amendments. After the Committee on Alternative Education has concluded its work, it will report back to House in plenary and the bill will be slated for third reading.
Delivering his remarks at the hearing, the sponsor, Hon. Ugochinyere said the bill is about building the Nigeria we dream of, where certificates alone no longer determine success, but where skills, creativity, and innovation become the engine of prosperity.
He stated that the bill is also about justice and equity, as the Southeast, despite its immense contribution to Nigeria’s economy, remains under-served in terms of federal educational investment.
The lawmaker also stated that locating this institute in Imo State sends a strong message that the federal government is committed to inclusive, balanced development.
He therefore urged his colleagues and stakeholders to support the institute as it will be a turning point and help recover lost ground in education, industry, and innovation.
Ugochinyere said, “this is about the support we are seeking from the committee on the view to establish the Southeast Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies, Pumonpon, Iwo States, HB 2263, presented to the public in the Committee on Alternative Education.
The bill to establish the Southeast Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies, Umuokpom, is about building the Nigeria we dream of, a Nigeria where certificates alone no longer determine success, but where skills, creativity, and innovation become the engine of prosperity. Today is not just about a bill. It is about a vision.
“A vision of a Southeast, and indeed a Nigeria, where our young people are no longer trapped by unemployment, insecurity, or neglect, but are defined by innovation, enterprise, and productivity. 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.
“The Bureau before the National Assembly seeks to establish a federal institute that will equip our young people with practical, technical, and entrepreneurial skills, serve as hub for innovation, research, and enterprise innovation, address unemployment and insecurity by creating clear pathways to meaningful jobs and sustainable businesses, restore hope, and rebuild the socio-economic foundation of the South East, a region that has endured much hardship but still carries enormous potential.
“We all know the painful truth. Unemployment is one of the greatest threats to our nation today. I know as I feel recruited into violence, agitation, and crime. But 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 changes a family, a community, and ultimately the nation. The southeast is blessed with some of the most industrious and creative people in Africa. The world is now recognizing the Igbo apprenticeship system as one of the most effective grassroots entrepreneurship models in history.
“Harvard University and global thought leaders have begun studying it as a framework for global change innovation and world creation. Now imagine what happens when Dessertive meets modern training, research laboratories, global partnerships, and cutting edge technology. We will not just be building businesses, we will be building industries. We will not just be creating jobs, we will be shaping careers.
“We will not just be generating wealth, we will be securing prosperity for generations. And let me be clear, this institute is not for the South East alone, it is for Nigeria. It is a national response to a national problem. Youth specificness is not an Igbo problem, not an Asa problem, not a Yoruba problem, it is a Nigerian challenge.
“This bill offers a Nigerian solution, empower the youth and secure the nation. Across the world, countries that dominate the global economy, from Germany to Japan, from China to the United States, have invested heavily in vocational and technical institutes. They’ve understood that universities alone cannot drive industrialization; they knew that entrepreneurship, innovation, and technical skill are the backbone of prosperity.
“Nigeria must not be left behind. It will help us move from years of insecurity and open a new chapter of peace, growth, and progress. So, in conclusion, I make this appeal: let us not see this bill as just another legislative proposal. Let us see it for what it truly is: a blueprint for our shared future. Let us join hands across party lines, across ethnic divides, and across generational differences to make this dream a reality.
” Because in building this institute, we are not just establishing another federal school; we are building a future where every Nigerian youth can rise, where skills matter more than paper qualifications, and where innovation drives national prosperity. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the Southeast Institute for Vocational and Entrepreneurial Studies, Umuokpom, is not just a law we seek to pass; it is a future we seek to build”, he added.
