Historical records
indicate that the establishment of Government Technical College Bukuru
(initially Vom Road Trade Centre, later Bukuru Trade Centre, and until
recently, Government Technical Training School, Bukuru) was conceived in a
revised ten-year development plan, 1946 - 1955. It was drawn up to form the
subject of an application for assistance under the colonial development and
welfare act.
The aims and
objectives of the establishment of the Trade Centre Bukuru like those of any of
its kind was to train high-grade master craftsmen.
It was hoped that
these craftsmen when strategically placed in government establishments and
industry would exert potent upward pressure on the productivity of labour
generally.
The training of the
apprentices in areas where industries have developed should be undertaken
partly at the trade centre and partly in industry. That was the ideal condition
advocated by the planners of programme initially, but the stages of industrial
development in Nigeria was not ideal; so most trade centres modified the
programmes to suit their peculiar local conditions.
The first intake into
Vom Road Trade Centre-later Bukuru Trade Centre was on 16th of June, 1953. But
because of the prevailing circumstance of the institution at the time, it
offered two courses: Carpentry and Joinery and Bricklaying, both building
trades. The two technical instructors played two roles; Supervision of the
contractors who were constructing the buildings for the Centre and the training
of the students.
The training was very
important to the students and their instructors because it met the ideal
condition advocated by the initiators of the master craftsmen concept earlier
explained. The fact that the students were involved on the direct job training
on building construction which was also directly relevant to the building
industry in Nigeria is a well deserved.
When the institution
was officially opened on 30th April 1954, three sets of courses were
established in addition to the two started in 1953 and by the end of 1954, ten
courses were running at the Trade Centre, Bukuru.
The school originally
served the sub-regional area of Plateau, Bauchi, Borno and Adamawa (now Plateau
State, Bauchi State, Borno and Gongola States). Students were selected after
the result of a competitive interview. In addition, the apprentices were to be
sponsored by a Native Authority or Voluntary Agency.