The Lagos State Government has set a target of creating jobs and reducing poverty through investment in skills development. Artisans and tradesmen are being retrained in various skills and competency under the capacity building initiative of the Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Empowerment Programme (LASTAEP), DANIEL ESSIET reports.
NIGERIA is well known for industries that contribute to a large portion of its economic growth.
The industries, including construction, automobile, fashion, food, steel, agriculture among others, involve manufacturing, repair and maintenance.
However, there is a dearth of many artisanal skills required within the industries.
To fill the skills gap, industries turn to feeder neighbouring countries to source such skills. This negatively impacts on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures.
To reverse this, Lagos State Government is strengthening its development blueprint anchored on investment in skills development to create jobs and reducing poverty. The aim is to build the capacities of artisans and tradesmen through incubation and training.
Speaking during the kick off of a new batch of trainees under the Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Empowerment Programme (LASTAEP), the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke said there was the need to upgrade the skills and competencies of artisans and craftsmen, to enable them to meet the aspiration of the economy.
She added that the shortage of artisans in the country is an obstacle to growth and that a capability building programme for artisans and tradesmen would create jobs and spur growth.
To this end, efforts are being directed at improving the training and certification of artisans and craftsmen. Five hundred artisans and tradesmen are being retrained in various skills and competency under LASTAEP. She said the artisans and tradesmen would undergo an eight-week intensive training to upgrade their skills at three technical colleges in Ikotun, Agidingbi and Ikorodu.
The training, according to her, was organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) to improve the competencies of artisans and tradesmen in the state who would be certified by LASTVEB.
She said the programme is supported by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (ETF).
Noting that the state government places broad-based economic empowerment in a growth and employment framework, she said that focusing on skills could boost inclusive and sustainable industrial development across the state.
She reiterated the need to focus more on training of artisans as catalyst for growing the nation’s GDP.
She said boosting the capacity of artisans would help achieve the target.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas, stressed that it was vital that artisans equipped themselves with the skills needed in the marketplace so they could take advantage of opportunities that would help reduce poverty and spur growth.
According to her, re-training to meet new opportunities is critical considering the fact that shortage of skilled artisans.
The PS, however, pointed out that technical and vocational education and training is an area where the government and the private sector should invest since it has impact on incomes and growth.
She expressed optimism that after completing the programme, beneficiaries would acquire capacities to provide services.
So far, Lagos State Government has trained over 1,500 tradesmen and artisans in 23 trades and vocations.
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