[01] Tajudeen Adewumi Adebisi, Department of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

In South-western Nigeria, indigenous vocational trades or crafts are clan bound. Vocational trades/crafts are identified with particular families or clans. This trend, to a larger extent, is no longer as it was used to be. The craving for civil employment and ‘white collar’ jobs has adversely affected acquisition of indigenous vocational trades/crafts along family lineage or clan by young men and women. This study, therefore, appraises acquisition of indigenous vocational skills using the instrumentality of history with a view to bringing to fore, those factors which made acquisition of indigenous vocational skills thrive then as opposed to what obtains in the modern day situation. The study aims to highlight various indigenous vocational trades/crafts in which prospective trainees could acquire vocational skills, determines the prospects of indigenous vocational trades/crafts, examine the prerequisites for acquiring indigenous vocational skills. Using available literature and research reports on vocational education development in Nigeria as a basis, the study observes that indigenous vocational trades/crafts are no longer thriving as they used to be. This limitation is evident in the high rates of joblessness, unemployment, and high level of poverty among the youths especially. The study concludes that making indigenous trades/crafts attractive and lucrative will go a long way in reviving the interest of the youths in acquiring indigenous vocational skills. This implies ensuring availability of the necessary amenities that will facilitate thriving of indigenous vocational trades/crafts. This is with a view to working towards recreating a highly industrialized indigenous society which will eventually culminate in industrialized Nigeria.

Vocational Trades, Family/Clan, History, Indigenous Society, Vocational Education

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