Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the federal government will collaborate more with the private sector, especially in the relevant policy formation process and the management of skills centres in the country.

A statement by his media aide Laolu Akande said on Monday that the vice president made the point when he presided over a meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS).

The council resolved to give more roles to the organised private sector as a means to closing the skills acquisition gap in the country.

The meeting also resolved to, among other things, encourage the establishment of states councils on skills to complement and replicate efforts made at the national level to deeply tackle the issue of skills gap.

Mr Osinbajo said it was clear that the private sector had critical roles to play in resuscitating many of the skills centres across the country, stating that the sector was better positioned to determine the needs of industries.

The vice president emphasised the point about creating opportunities for digital skills acquisition as well as other relevant skills across different sectors, also with the active collaboration between the public and private sectors.

“This can be achieved by collaborating with private sector stakeholders to, among other things, get accurate data on the skills gap in the country and how to better address them,” he said. “The establishment and running of the various skills centres should be private sector-driven; it shouldn’t be left to the government alone to manage. The industry players know where the gaps exist.”

(NAN)