The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Dangote Group have empowered 3,500 artisans in construction to increase local participation in the sector.
ITF’s Director-General, Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, said at the weekend at the closing of the workshop for artisans under the first phase of the deal in Lagos that the training was aimed at stopping the incessant building collapse in the country and the over dependence on artisans from neighbouring West African countries.
ITF collaborated with the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) to design the programme to enhance the skills, knowledge and attitude of the craftsmen to address performance gaps.
She said the skills would allow more Nigerians to be active players in the industry and if further encouraged, Nigeria will soon be exporter of labour.
Mrs Chukkas-Onaeko, represented by the Deputy Director of the ITF, Mr Abdulrasaq Adeniran, said the artisans were trained in 10 locations across the country in seven trades which include: masons, tillers, plaster of paris (POP) installers, block makers, plumbers, electricians and carpenters in the industry.
Besides Lagos, the other venues, which will benefit from the training, according to her, are Abuja, Benin, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Ibadan, Minna, Bauchi and Kano.
On the methodology of the training, Mrs Chukkas-Onaeko said it is free, as 50 participants per trade were allowed in each venue, with lectures, discussions, site visits, syndicate group work and practical demonstration explored to impart the skills in the artisans.
She said ITF is committed to its objectives of producing middle and high level skilled manpower that will drive the nation’s economy forward, through the provision of global standards technical and vocational education that will eradicate unemployment, particularly amongst youths.
On the training, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, CTIN, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said it was to upgrade and enhance the quality of the Nigeria artisans and craftsmen in the construction industry by providing them with requisite knowledge and skills that will make them more efficient and effective in the discharge of their tasks.
Dangote, represented by the Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Mr Mansur Ahmed, said it was also to discourage the importation of foreign artisans and craftsmen who have displaced Nigerians from the construction industry.
He said active participation of Nigerians would also increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and reduce foreign capital flight and despite being in 14 countries in Africa with their artisans well trained, it is only normal for artisans to be well trained to know their job.
He said the second phase of the training will start soon as the importance of the training to the country is too enormous.
Also, the Chairman, Lagos branch of the Block Makers Association of Nigeria, Mr Okunola Abegunde, said he learnt what he had not learn before in his 20 years experience as a block maker at the training and thank the organisers of the programme.
