The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Skill acquisition

  • Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    Ngige wants synergy among FG agencies on vocational training

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has called for synergy among Federal Government agencies in charge of skill acquisition and vocational training to ensure the full realization of the government objective on job creation.

    Senator Ngige said vocational training was the key to unlocking the potentials of Nigerian youths and stemming the tide of unemployment in the country.

    The Minister spoke at the graduation ceremony of Ganduje Auto-Mechanic Training and Empowerment Scheme as well as the training of Kano Zonal Staff and Management of parastatals under the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano.

    He said; “Training of youths in vocational trade is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s cardinal objective on youth entrepreneurship and job creation. We have relentlessly been pursuing this in order to fully tap into the elastic opportunities provided by investments in blue collar jobs.

    He challenged Nigerian youths to key into the various vocational training programmes of the Federal Government such as the N-Power initiative as well as other artisan and craftsmen training of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment offered by the Specialized Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Centres.

    According to him, the “Federal Government N-Power Build is an initiative under the N-power job creation scheme planned to develop workforce for a wide range of artisanal jobs in the Construction and housing industry.

    “This would impact on other economic sectors by building the capacity of a critical mass of young Nigerians interested in the construction and housing industry leading to efficient service delivery and increase the number of available job opportunities, reduce unemployment, improve incomes level, poverty reduction and economic vulnerability of unemployed Nigerians.”

    Inspecting an under-utilized facilities at the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kano, Sen. Ngige described the situation as antithetical to the change Agenda of the present administration and urged the Kano State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Iliyasu Ahmed to urgently exploit the training capacity at the centre for the benefits of the teaming Kano youths

    “The essence of inter-agency collaboration especially when they are offering the same service is utmost in achieving the purpose for which government created such agencies.  

    “The NDE office in Kano is poorly equipped, though we are planning to do something urgent about this, but here we are amidst expansive facilities at the ITF. A situation where the NDE in the same city cannot take a full advantage of this is not excusable.

    “All the skills acquisition centres across the Federation owned by the states and Federal government must work in mutual collaboration so as to be on the same page in terms of quality of skills, certificates awarded, as well as enable them share in the benefits of inter-agency cooperation. I therefore, expect that in the next few months, I would have gotten a full report on the number of trainees the NDE has brought for different training programmes here.” 

    At the zonal office of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Kano, the Minister frowned at the contributions from the zone comprising Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, saying it was grossly below its potential.

     He urged the management and staff to be alive to their responsibilities. 

    Placed fourth out of the six zones in the country and with a contribution of about 160 million in 2016, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the development, insisting the zone could do much better.

    The Minister charged the agency to reach out to the public, enroll more agencies and companies so as to enable workers benefit from the provisions of the Compensation Act while pledging the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of Nigerian workers.  

  • NAFOWA empowers 166 through skill acquisition

    NAFOWA empowers 166 through skill acquisition

    The wife of the Chief of Air Staff and president, Nigerian Air Force Officers Wife Association (NAFOWA), Hajiya Hafsat Sadique Abubakar, has called for a concerted action from all stakeholders towards the eradication of unemployment among dependants of military personnel.

    Hajia Abubakar made this call during the graduation ceremony of 166 beneficiaries of the NAFOWA Skills Acquisition and Vocational Training programme at the Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna.

    The NAFOWA Skill Acquisition programme, which began in February 2016, was designed to address the high level of unemployment among dependants of Air Force personnel, especially the youth and the widows. The scheme has already graduated 150 and 155 students in Markurdi and Maiduguri barracks respectively.

    Among the skills learnt were: event management, aluminum works, cosmetics, hair dressing, interior decoration, make-up, leather works, catering, ICT, beads-making and tailoring.

    According to Hajia Abubakar, the scheme is also aimed at complementing the Federal Government’s effort at tackling unemployment, especially among Air Force personnel in Nigeria.

    She said: “This journey, which we are culminating today, started in February 2016, when NAFOWA realised that there was a gap in the level of employment amongst the dependants of our Air Force personnel. The level of joblessness in the barracks was noted to be on the increase, with an attendant increase in idleness and crime rate. This led NAFOWA to urgently intervene with this concept of Skills Acquisition and vocational training programme targeting the NAF Bases and its surrounding communities.”

    She said the skills learnt at the programme were carefully chosen because they are needed on a daily basis by the residents of the base and the surrounding communities and can be easily converted to cash making enterprise.

    The Special Guest of Honour and wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza El-Rufai, said the programme will have a ripple effect in the state as a whole.

    “A stable home-front is always a good requirement for our officers and men on the frontline and a programme like this will only promote peace and stability in our homes. I know this programme will touch a lot of lives and the ripple effect on the community will be felt in the state as a whole,” she said.

    She also enjoined the graduating students, especially the women and widows to take full advantage of the social initiative and use it as a launching pad for a better future.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by Air Vice Marshall (AVM)  Ajibola Jekunnu said the ceremony is a clear reflection of the determination and commitment of the NAF in supporting NAFOWA towards improving the welfare of dependants of personnel. “This is in line with one of the key drivers of my vision, which is human capacity development through robust and result-oriented training for enhanced professional performance.”

    He said to complement the efforts of NAFOWA; the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters has established the Barracks Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (BYETA) programme, which will enable youths to become self-sufficient through agriculture. He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the acquired skills for a better future.

    Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to NAFOWA for empowering them, promising to utilise the skills towards attainment of self-sufficiency.

    One of the graduating students, Mrs. Precious Mbamara said she was previously unemployed but has learnt to make bags and shoes. “I really gained from this programme, I am interested in proceeding with the programme, once I am able to get the required machines,” she said.

    A widow, Mrs. Bulus Baba said she had been finding life difficult since her husband died but will utilize her new skill towards providing for her family. She also appealed to the authorities to pay her husband’s life insurance adding that the payment would help in alleviating the sufferings of the widows.

    With Gratitude

  • Institute, club sign pact on skill acquisition

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Association of Lions Club, District 404B1, Nigeria, on skill acquisition and training of youth and women in the district.

    The institute will educate them on capital needed for the project. The Bank of Industry (BOI) will also fund participants’ businesses and technology plans.

    The agreement was reached in Abeokuta during the investiture of Waheed Kadiri as the District Governor of Lions 404B1.

    Senator Adegbenga Kaka, who chaired the event, commended the institution and the club for the initiative, which he noted will go a long way in diversifying the economy.

  • Redeemed Church tackles crimes with skill acquisition

    Redeemed Church tackles crimes with skill acquisition

    DETERMINED to reduce the rising crime waves in the society, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has embarked on skill acquisition training for youths.

    Assistant Pastor in-Charge of Lagos Province 37, Olajide Oluwayemi, who represented Pastor Benjamin Ajayeoba, said part of the aims of RCCG’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to take away youths from the streets, address poverty and ensure that people realise their potentials in life.

    He spoke during the graduation of skill acquisition programme organised for members of the RCCG Greater Height Parish in Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.

    The cleric said:  “Looking at this, many people have been taken out of the labour market by reason of this empowerment alone. If this continues, it will reduce poverty in the society and also give capacity for people to be able to realize their potentials. Youth restiveness will also reduce to the barest minimum.”

    He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the empowerment and endeavour to train others.

    The host pastor, Olukayode Soneye, said the church found it essential to move beyond addressing spiritual needs to physical lack in host communities.

    His words: “There are so many people in the society that need help and the church should endeavour to reach out to as many as possible. We have trained 70 people – 12 in barbing and 58 in catering. They all have undergone a week of intensive training.”

    Soneye said that beyond equipping the participants with key knowledge in the selected fields, the church has also empowered them with basic operating tools to set up their individual enterprise.

    “We are not just sending them away after being trained; we want to empower them so that after now, they can still be useful, they can make use of what they learn to earn income for themselves. That is why we are providing for them minimum materials to start.

    “For example, in the catering, we gave them the frying bowls and all the ingredients they need to start their first trade including flour, yeast, baking pan among others. We gave them new clippers each, brush, comb, aprons and certificate to those trained for barbing to show that they are not quacks.”

    A member of CSR team, Mr Dennis Falode, said that though the training was on for a-week, it was richly packed as participants displayed evidence of being impacted.

  • NDE empowers 430 youths

    430 persons who received training in various skills have being empowered by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    The acting Director-General of NDE, Mr. Kunle Obayan disclosed this at the resettlement of graduates of Vocational Skills Development (VSD) programme in Minna.

    He said that the disbursement is in line with the plan to create mass employment opportunities for unskilled and unemployed Nigerians by the President Muhammadu Buhari led government.

    According to Obayan, the desire of the NDE has been to empower all beneficiaries of their skills training programmes lamenting that this has been limited by the funds available to the Directorate each year.

    The acting Director General who was represented by the Director, Small Scales Entreprises Department, Mrs. Henrieetta Achigu advised unskilled and unemployed young Nigerians to take advantage of the various programmes of the NDE in order to exit joblessness while she assured that the Directorate will not relent in its efforts in assiting young Nigerians access decent jobs.

    In his address, the Director General, New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Engineer Abdullahi Abubakar said the empowerment of over 400 people across the nation by NDE is a step towards addressing the developmental challenge the nation is facing.

    He called on the beneficiaries to use what is given to them judiciously while urging youths to put more towards discovering themselves and their potentials.

    Abubakar said that the state government is encouraging youths to go into business ventures as the government alone cannot provide jobs for all the unemployed youths in the state adding that the state government will soon roll out its programme for youth empowerment.

    The beneficiaries were given equipments for welding, electrical engineering, beads making, shoe making, fridges amongst others.

  • FIIRO urges participants on skill acquisition

    FIIRO urges participants on skill acquisition

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos  has urged training participants to use their acquired skills and competencies immediately.

    Its Director-General Dr Gloria Elemo made the appeal during the closing ceremony of the Techno-Entrepreneurship Development Training for Ubulu-Uku Youths, Delta State.

    The three-day training was centred on five technologies, including: smoked fish, fruit juice and high quality cassava flour, instant pounded yam flour, bread and confectioneries baking.

    She also urged them not to be deterred by any challenge or barrier they would face while becoming business owners and employers of labour.

    According to her, acquiring a skill is just one of many steps to becoming the entrepreneur of one’s dream; taking a step further to starting the business is another big step. “I can assure you that you will find several reasons why you cannot start now, though some of these reasons cannot be ignored totally, especially start off fund. I want you to know that once there is a will, there will always be a way,” she said.

    She also told them of  a collaboration between the Institute and the Bank of Industry (BoI), a Federal Government-owned development bank charged with funding projects.

    Dr. Elemo told the participants that by taking part in the training, their names have been registered on the institute’s database to be forwarded to the BoI. She added that BoI would aid them in funding their projects, be it small, medium or large scale.

    She also called on the elders of Ubulu-Uku to set up a fund to assist younger generation especially those that are willing to be self reliant and create employment for further generations. She said through such funds, cluster processing centres would be established in collaboration with local and state government to fast track enterprise take off with equipment and machines.

    The FIIRO DG said they could take their raw materials to these centres, process them for a token and market their products until they generate funds for their own equipment.

    She urged some of them that are desirous of starting immediately to take advantage of the contract production scheme of the Institute to enable them forge ahead.

    The DG while congratulating the participants, told them that she was looking forward to reading their stories in the nearest future, in the Institute’s future edition of “250 Successful FIIRO Entrepreneurs: How we made it”.

    A participant, Mr. Mathew Abioye, who showed a lot enthusiasm for the knowledge he acquired in the training, said if local entrepreneurs are encouraged with funding and the necessary infrastructure they have the capacity to reduce the high unemployment rate of youths.

    He encouraged other participants not to lose faith in the country but rather put in their best to make the training worth it.

  • FG urged to make skills acquisition compulsory for NYSC members

    FG urged to make skills acquisition compulsory for NYSC members

    Mrs Pamela Latunji-Bello, the Chief Executive Officer, Spectrum Beauty Academy, Lagos, on Saturday called on the government to make vocational skills acquisition compulsory under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    Latunji-Bello told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that vocational training would equip young graduates to be self- employed instead of depending on elusive white-collar jobs.

    “If the Federal Government should use part of the money paid to NYSC members in training them in the various vocations, it will go a long way in reducing unemployment in the country.

    “Skills acquisition should be mandatory for NYSC members during the one year service; they must learn a trade or the other and use their monthly stipends as training fee.

    “Because the vocations are where the money is,’’ she said.

    The entrepreneur stressed the need for compulsory capacity building for NYSC members “The future of Nigeria lies in the skills of its workforce. “If we do not train them, we are just giving money to people who will probably misuse it.’’

    Latunji-Bello urged the nation’s policy makers to place more emphasis skills acquisition at all levels of the nation’s educational system.

    “Let people stop seeing it as the pet project of wives of state governors that should be done at their spare time.

    “It should be re-integrated into the school curriculum, every university should give it a push. “Every Nigerian graduate should start thinking of having another profession or career,’’ she said.