TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF RELIANCE IN AUTOMOBILE OCCUPATIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study determined the technical skills requirements for self reliance in automobile occupations in Nigeria. The instrument for data collection was a 24 items questionnaire with four point scale on a population of 125 respondents sampled from Kaduna State; Niger State and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The questionnaire was validated by three experts chosen among automobile practitioners and automobile technology lecturers in the study areas and the corrected validated instrument pilot tested outside the study area. The reliability of the piloted tested instrument was established to be 0.82 using Cronbach Alfa statistic. Research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation. While z-test was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed among others that: the technical skills required for self reliance in automobile mechanics occupation includes among others : technical skills in the use of automobile diagnostic tools and equipment, technical skills in the servicing, maintenance and repairs of the systems and sub systems of the motor vehicles. The study also identified possible ways for acquisition of technical skills for self reliance in automobile mechanics occupation in Nigeria. There is no significant difference in the mean responses of automobile technology teachers and automobile practitioners on the technical skills requirements for self reliance in automobile occupations. The study recommended among others that there is need to exploit the innovation technical skills requirements for self reliance in automobile occupations in Nigeria and recommended also the establishment of technical skills training and skills development centers to provide lifelong technical training opportunities required for self reliance in automobile occupations in Nigeria.