Global Journal of Human Social Science, G: Linguistics and Education, Volume 23 Issue 3

requires controlled physical movement to be made under the guidance of the mind, which receives its stimulus through sensory input. The ability of an individual to perform specific task on its own successfully is skill. According to Obi (2011), a person is said to have acquired a skill when he can finish a given piece of work at a given time with minimum errors. To attain this level of minimum error, the individual needs to acquire basic training or knowledge relating to the assignment or task to be performed whether through formal training or a combination of both (Formal and informal training). Skill is a learned capacity or talent to carryout predetermined work often with the minimum outlay of time, energy or both (open encyclopedia 2019), Skill usually requires certain environmental stimuli and situation to assess the level of skill being shown and used. Office Technology and Management graduates need a broad range of skills in order to contribute to a modem economy and take their place in the technological society of the century (Igbodo. Ezoem, Ikejiofor, Nwaladoand Ayemhenre, 2013). It has been observed that the workplace is changing, and so are the skills that Office Technology and Management graduates must have to be able to cope with such changes with it. In summary therefore, skill is an acquired attitude, abilities and behaviours exhibited after an exposure to theories and practices in the individual’s field of study. Importance of Acquiring OTME Skills in Nigeria Maximum skills acquisition helps OTME students to be engaged in productive work either for themselves or for the employers of labour. According to Okorie and Ezeji in Udo (2014) the acquisition of requisite skills is a means of increasing the productive power of any nation They also added that Nigerian society should recognize the fact that every citizen should be well equipped to contribute effectively to the welfare of the country. The acquisition of such practical skills is important because when efficient and skillful hands are employed in any fields of human endeavours, high productivity is usually achieved. The acquisition of OTME skills is a veritable tool for national and manpower development. According to Peter (2010) office education graduates is expected to be competent in performing basic skills. He further remarked that employers and customers have not reduced their demand for graduates who are competent in the use of grammar, punctuation, spelling and proper word choice and who can express themselves well both orally and in writing. He highlighted that listening skills are also essential, the ability to follow directions and accurately collect fact and information to be stored and later retrieved are important skills that go far beyond what we normally thought as proofreading. More so, maximum skills acquisition by OTME students and other will help to enrich the Nigerian society economically and in this way tend to facilitate economic development. Okorie and Ezeji in Udo (2014) opined that a rich nation is one that is capable of meeting the economic, social, moral and political needs of the citizenry. Nigeria as a nation will enjoy economic stability it OTME students in particular and all other VE students in general acquire maximum skills in their specialties. Furthermore, politically. OTME skills tend to promote personal and national greatness. Okorie and Ezeji in Udo (2014) pointed out that the behaviour of an individual in a society or the behaviour of a nation in a community of nations may be influenced by the skills possessed by that individual or nation. Socially, the acquisition of relevant OTME skills helps a person to provide amusement, happiness, love, affection etc. to other individuals as well as the entire nation. It also helps to reduce criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery and other social vices among youths. If OTME students will give priority to the acquisition of maximum and relevant OTME skills, it is hoped that they will help alleviate poverty, promote equity, especially in relation to gender. a) Skills Available for OTME Students Skills to be acquired by OTME students are as follows: • Information processing skill: Information Processing is the handling of alphabetical and alphanumeric information electronically. Kentos (2011) states that the term was coined to emphasize the manipulation of certain types of data, characters combined to form words, sentences, paragraph, memos, letters and reports. The information processing system comprises equipment procedures, and people whereby thoughts, ideas and opinions are expressed and circulated in hard copy and/or soft copy form. According to Marshall in Osamade (2017), OTME graduates possesses mastery of office skills and ability to assume responsibility, the secretary displays initiative, exercise judgment and makes decisions in today’s office. The work of the OTME graduates has become more demanding and highly vast, in nature compared to what it used to be in the past. It is now necessary for office technology and management graduates to change from the use of archaic and slow manual office equipment and machine to highly sophisticated office equipment and machines which include information technology resources and interest development that will enhance the productivity and efficiency of OTME graduates work in the office. • Communication Skill: Communication is the life wire of any organization, nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively. For any worker to succeed in his career, he/she must be effective in writing, speaking and listening (Nwalade, © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue III Version I 75 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 G Current Issues and Challenges in the Acquisition of Office Technology and Management Education Skills in Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba