The Nation Newspaper

Tag: skills

  • ITF to establish 32 skills training centres nationwide

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), a government agency charged with the responsibility of training required manpower for the nation’s industrialization needs has assured the nation that all things being equal, it will keep delivering on its core mandate.

    The agency through it Director-General, Dr (Mrs) Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko announced that plans to establish 32 skills training centers across the nation is underway. She stated this yesterday during the graduation ceremony of its 4th batch (2013) trainees in Lagos. The skill manpower training which is in partnership with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA)graduated 45 now highly skilled youths in its Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) at its Industrial Skills Training Centre (ISTC), Ojota Lagos.

    Chukkas-Onaeko said the TSDP is an initiative which aims at producing appropriate technical skilled workforce with a view to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness by empowering Nigerians with industrial and vocational skills for paid or self-employment. She added that the major plank of President Jonathan’s transformation Agenda is the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIPR) and the graduation of the trainees, a modest effort of ITF and partners to ensure availability of sufficient quantity of required skilled workforce for driving the NIPR. Through synergy with other stakeholders, she announced that 37, 000 youths were trained in Autotronics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Tiling, Sewing and Knitting, and welding and fabrication in 2013.

    To address the issue of poverty and unemployment,   Chukkas-Onaeko said three most effective strategies include political, social and economic empowerment. She appeals for release of statutory funds from relevant government agencies to make their all important assignment easy calling for the resuscitation of technical skills training at least in phases.

    The Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director, Vono Products Plc, Mrs Titolola Bakare said the graduation of the skilled trainees was made possible because the synergy between ITF and NECA                       calling for its sustenance as the manufacturing sector of the economy has benefitted immensely since the inception of the programme four years ago. She said no nation can attract investors without sufficient manpower requirements to drive the investment. Mrs Bakare advised the teeming youths roaming the streets to take advantage of skills acquisition opportunities provided by the Federal Government as it can make their dream come true.

  • Firm empowers undergrads with grants, life skills

    Firm empowers undergrads with grants, life skills

    IN its quests to engender the culture of self-reliance and enterprise among the teeming youths population, Life Can Be Greater (LCBG), an organisation which prides itself as a “solution-provider to everyday problems” has instituted a process aimed at tasking the creative ability of undergraduates.

    The LCBG kicked off its inaugural campaign with an ideas contest, which they coined “solutions session” held at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo campus, recently.

    In anticipation of an engaging interaction with the organisers, the students, many of whom are already battle-weary from the protest over the tuition hike and prolonged faceoff of the institution’s management with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (LASU Chapter), fanned out en masse as they occupied the faculty hall of the Social Sciences, venue of the event.

    After filling the hall to the brim, the students got the first shock of the day as a few dozen of the participants were immediately rewarded with a N20,000 cheque in the first few minutes of the event. It was a simple game: they were all to look under their seats and pull out a brown envelope tightly sealed beneath it.

    Upbeat, the students ripped open their envelopes; but while some hissed as they read out the words printed on the cards, ‘Better luck next time,’ there were rapturous screams from various parts of the hall as others proudly waved their new found prize which is to be applied towards their tuition.

    Expectedly, this got the event to a fiery head start as the students decided to seize the moment and not only compete for the remaining envelopes with various size cheques, but contend among themselves for the two big prizes: the half and full tuition scholarship on offer, a development the organisers described as heartwarming since they set out to challenge the students to think creatively and proffer solutions to everyday problems in their communities, while rewarding those who come up with brilliant simple answers to internal and national issues.

    Marketing Executive and PR Director of LCBG, Mr. Derin Olukayode, said Life Can Be Greater is a movement that proffers solutions to societal issues on a small scale and galvanises citizens to push for their implementation on a wider scale. “We are looking for practical solutions, we don’t have to wait for the government for everything.

    “There are little things we can do to make life better for ourselves and the next person and that is what we want to inculcate into the students. Life, indeed, is hard; schools fees are high, but life can be greater if we focus our minds on solving those little things that make the country and ourselves greater.

    “LCBG is here to let you know there is hope. If I have learned anything in life, it is the power of hope and the power of one person to change the world by giving people hope. Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela, Obama and even the young girl from Pakistan, Malala, are examples of the power of what one person can achieve,” he said.

    During the solutions session, several pertinent issues directly affecting students were thrown up, among which include the worrisome trend of students dropping out of school in large numbers every year because of the high tuition, inadequate funding of education, insecurity problems, incessant disruption of academic calendar owing to ASUU strike, and absence of accommodation for LASU students.

    “We are worried because those that drop out of school today are the ones who will become the society’s nemesis tomorrow, and no matter how successful we become, we still have to live in a society with a high level of hoodlums and thugs. Also, we wonder why WIFI network is free in other universities like the University of Lagos (UNILAG); yet, we pay a lot in LASU to subscribe to the internet connection in this ICT generation,” one of the students said.

    At the end of the ideas contest, two winners emerged. Oluwafemi Okunleye, a 300-level student of Accounting, won the full tuition scholarship for his didactic analysis of the accommodation problem in LASU and his solution of the state government engaging private sector organisations like Life Can Be Greater, in a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mechanism that will alleviate the suffering of students who travel long distances to attend lectures.

    Lawal Ismail Omoniyi emerged second best and walked away with the partial scholarship for inspiring his fellow students to catch the entrepreneurial bug early in life, because “nobody owes us a job after graduating. It is up to us to create the future we really want and one thought-provoking seminar like this is enough to change people’s lives,” he noted.

    An elated Omoniyi told newsmen after the event that he was happy to have won the partial scholarship. “It is really a great day for me. When I came here, I wasn’t expecting to win any money, but along the line I was inspired by what was happening in the hall and I called up my spirit of determination and psyched myself to come up with a brilliant idea, which fetched me N100,000.

    “I also thank the organisers of this programme, they have demonstrated that, indeed, life can be greater. I emphasised during my presentation that one seminar is enough to change people’s lives and build up the entrepreneurial spirit.”

    A member of LCBG, Ms. Omorinsojo, explained that the group could not afford to give every student grants and decided not to award the scholarships based on academic performance, “because we believe each student is qualified to be a change agent and history has shown that bright students do not have the monopoly of creative ideas and solutions.”

    Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, the MC of the event, said – “We are happy we fulfilled our mission, which is that for the students, even if they didn’t win any money, many would be leaving the hall challenged and inspired to change their environment by looking inwards for solutions to their own problems.”

    While commenting of the initiative, the president of the Students’ Union, LASU, Comrade Nurudeen Yusuf, popularly known as Optimist, was full of praise for the LCBG team for bringing such huge relief to students through the programme.

    “We look forward to more rewarding cooperation with the LCBG team. We believe there can be greater life in LASU, in Lagos, and even in our country. As a student body, we have the vision of launching a students’ endowment fund where we can dip our hands into some millions of naira and give to indigent students. With this, the public will have more confidence in us and even support the project.”

  • ITF seeks support for skills development

    ITF seeks support for skills development

    The  Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has called on governments at all levels and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to rev up their support for the development of skills to aid the nation’s industrialisation process.

    As part of the moves to achieve this, the Fund sought for patronage for its training programmes, including prompt remittance of training contributions.

    Its Director-General,Dr Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, who spoke  during the opening ceremony of the sixth management retreat of the agency in Asaba, the Delta State capital, said ITF will not relent in providing need based intervention in the polity.

    The workshop, with theme, “Mastering the art of leading change” was organised by the ITF to come up with strategies that could be used in achieving its mandates.

    She said: ”We appeal to both the private and public sectors to support the ITF. On our part, we shall not relent in providing appropriate need based performance improvement intervention of all our clients and stakeholders.”

  • Soft skills should be part of curriculum, says author

    Soft skills should be part of curriculum, says author

    Harry Nnoli, author of a new book, You are Hired is advocating the introduction of soft skills training in the curriculum of tertiary institutions.

    In an interview with The Nation, Nnoli said securing a job entails more than having relevant qualifications and technical skills.

    Employers seek those who can communicate, work in teams, add value and have the right attitude to succeed.

    He said: “Your academic qualification may get you through the interview gate; but securing a job entails much more.  Communication is key.  The only way I know you have something to offer is the way you communicate.  You must be computer literate, internet savvy and be good on the social media.  Interpersonal relationships is key and you must show you have the right mindset – that you have a can do spirit and you are a team player.  Those are the soft skills employers look out for.  But sadly, many graduates of today do not have it.”

    Arguing for the teaching of soft skills in schools, Nnoli said he was ready to partner with universities and other institutions to incorporate it into their curriculum, using his book as a resource material.

    “There should be something like a personal development course in the university, even in secondary schools.  We need to incorporate some of the elements in this book into the curriculum.  I am looking for a way to partner with universities to do this.  I do not see why universities cannot use this book to teach so that when the students come out, they have not only technical skills but soft skills,” he said.

    Nnoli said tackling this challenge right from school would help to significantly reduce Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which stands at 23.9 per cent.

    “Unemployment rate according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics is put at 23.9 per cent.  The problem is not just an absence of jobs.  If the issue is employability, then this book can help.  There is also the issue of more graduates than jobs.  While government is working on creating the enabling environment to increase the number of jobs, youths too can think of what they can do,” he said.

    Though he never did Human Resource Management during his career, Nnoli said with over 20 years experience in sales, marketing and business management across several sectors, including telecommunications, banking, and manufacturing, he has come to understand the need for people to be able to sell themselves.

    The 45-year old pharmacist by training, said the 145-page book was deliberately written in simple language and printed to be reader-friendly so young people can easily overcome their inertia for reading and gain from its content.

    “It is a deliberate attempt to encourage people to read because the information there is valuable. Just like medicine meant for children is sweetened to encourage them to take it easily so they can get well, that is the same way the book is not too bulky and has been written with a lot of sub-heads so that whatever portion you read, you get something from it,” he said.

     

  • Skills for 160 youths 

    Skills for 160 youths 

    About 160 unemployed youths in Imo State have benefited from a special empowerment programme sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Hon Emeka Ihedioha, in partnership with the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), through the institution’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES).

    The Deputy Speaker disclosed that the empowerment programme was captured in the 2013 budget for the people of his constituency through the Training and Research Development Programme.

    He noted that he went beyond the Federal Government’s approved number of 100 youths to train 160 instead as a result of his burning desire to tackle challenges of youth unemployment in the country.

    The beneficiaries who were drawn from across the entire youth organisations in the state, participated in a four-day training programme where they were taught paint production, cement production and disinfectant and air freshener production, among other vocations.

    Speaking at the end of the programme, Ihedioha explained that he personally took up the challenge to ensure that the training and resource development for youths in the state were adequately  accommodated in the country’s 2013 budget.

    He further said the idea to equip the youth with vocational skills is a departure from the age long but erroneous tradition of sharing money to the youth instead of giving them the necessary training that will give them meaningful livelihood.

    “I will continue to provide the youth in Imo State the required training that will equip them to face the challenges of life. The beneficiaries are not only from my constituency but also from the entire state. This is because I believe that if the youth are given means of livelihood, the larger society will be better for it. It is not just enough to share money to them,” he said.

    Ihedioha challenged the country’s universities to build technologies to ensure an increase in the production of manpower, stressing that this would impact positively on the lives of the people by improving labour and creating jobs for most families.

    He commended the  management of the institution for accepting to host the training programme which he said is part of his constituency projects.

    The Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Cyril Chigozie Asiabaka commended Ihedioha for his innovation which he said ”would not only give the youth fish but would also teach them how to fish.”

    Prof. Asiabaka disclosed that all programmes in the institution had been coupled in technology with a well-developed centre for entrepreneurship studies now in place. He said: “If the youth are not empowered, we will run the risk of not resting ourselves. FUTO has been in the business of manpower development for some time now.”

    Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship studies, Prof.  Nathanial Nwaezeaku commended the Deputy Speaker for the initiative which he said had given the graduates a solid footing in life.

    He said the centre has imparted the necessary entrepreneurial skills in the youth during the four-day training which will transform them from job seekers to employers of labour.

    According to him, while the centre had been designed into two divisions, there is abundant expertise resident in the institution and a clear identification of skills that are community friendly.

    He further explained that the youth have been trained in technical and management skills like the production of liquid detergent, disinfectant, odor control and cement production among other vocational skills.

    Officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that also participated in the programme in collaboration with youth leaders in the state conferred on the Deputy Speaker the prestigious award of Commander of Youth Development.

    Clerk of the NANS Senate, Comrade Nnaji Julius K.C and Chairman, Council of Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents in Imo State, Comrade Okereke Godson, explained that the award was in line with their resolution of recognising notable and political icons in the country who had distinguished themselves in the areas of youth development and students’ empowerment.

    “We are happy with your burning desire for the development of Imo youths and students and the commander of Youth Development Award is designed by NANS Senate to appreciate the efforts of our leaders who have excelled in the areas of youth development and students’ empowerment. The award is issued to the Deputy Speaker because of his numerous youth programmes which the students have benefited most.

    They listed such programmes to include Post-graduate training programmes for 17 engineering graduates from Imo State at the Scientific Engineering Development Institute Enugu, agro-training and empowerment programmes for 700 women and youths in Imo State with the National Roots Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, skill acquisition training and empowerment programme for 500 youths in Imo State with NCE, attraction of advanced digital access for tertiary institutions (ADAPTI) for the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, as well as skill acquisition for Imo youths in different fields at the National Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha.

    Others were skill acquisition training in fish production and feed making for women and youths in Imo, advanced digital access for tertiary institutions for the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri with the provision of 110 laptop computers with e-learning facilities, provision of 100 pieces of classmates and V-Sat-based internet access with generator at Mbaise Secondary School Aboh Mbaise.

    The students’ union leaders who also drew attention to the provision of 100 pieces classmate computers and V-Sat-based internet access with generator at Okpala Secondary School and construction and furnishing of youth development centre at Aboh Mbaise, pleaded with Ihedioha to sustain his spirit of generosity and magnanimity which earned him the award for the betterment of mankind.

  • 600 acquire skills

    o fewer than 600 people in Ikorodu, Lagos have benefited from a free skill acquisition programme organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    At the graduation of the beneficiaries, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the government would continue to provide opportunities for people to be self-reliant.

    Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said the government intentionally created the ‘short-term‘ programme to complement the regular skill acquisition programmes in designated centres.

    “As a crash programme, we intend to assist more of our citizens and equip them, within a short period of time with skills in diverse vocations.

    “This initiative is in line with belief that entrepreneurship and self employment remain the best way to kick out poverty and combat joblessness.

    “We believe that more people will be empowered to create wealth for themselves, their families and others, which then becomes shared prosperity for the good of all,” Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said.

    The deputy governor urged more residents of the state to take advantage of the various skill acquisition centres in their areas.

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu 1 Constituency, hailed the government’s efforts in empowering the citizens.

    He said all the wards in the constituency were represented at the programme.

    Participants were trained in various trades, including balloon decoration, hair weaving and pomade production for a period of four weeks.

     

  • Acquire basic technical skills, women urged

    Acquire basic technical skills, women urged

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has urged women in business to acquire technical skills to enable them to compete with their male counterparts.

    The President of the association, Mrs Lola Okanlawon, gave this advice at its Sixth Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

    The theme of the meeting was Taking your business from start-up to multinational

    “Women wish to become established entrepreneurs, but have to work hard for it.

    “There is the need to imbibe some basic skills that would move your business to the next level.

    “Most women do not take time to read and to excel in business. You have to be versatile. You need to be computer literate, get knowledge on the stock market, customer care and so on.”

    She said the association has so far trained more than 400 women in basic entrepreneurial skills within the last one year.

    Also speaking at the event, Mrs Florence Seriki, the Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Ltd, urged women to create a balance between business and family.

    “When I was breast-feeding, I took my baby as far as Asia for business meetings.

    “As an upcoming entrepreneur, don’t expect to become great overnight. It takes a gradual process to build a multinational company.”

    Seriki expressed optimism that women could take over most Nigerian businesses by 2017.

    No fewer than 1,000 business women were at the event, where products such as smoked fish, handbags, and computer software packages were exhibited.

  • Acquire basic technical skills, women urged

    Acquire basic technical skills, women urged

    The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW) has urged women in business to acquire technical skills to enable them to compete with their male counterparts.

    The President of the association, Mrs Lola Okanlawon, gave this advice at its Sixth Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

    The theme of the meeting was Taking your business from start-up to multinational

    “Women wish to become established entrepreneurs, but have to work hard for it.

    “There is the need to imbibe some basic skills that would move your business to the next level.

    “Most women do not take time to read and to excel in business. You have to be versatile. You need to be computer literate, get knowledge on the stock market, customer care and so on.”

    She said the association has so far trained more than 400 women in basic entrepreneurial skills within the last one year.

    Also speaking at the event, Mrs Florence Seriki, the Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Ltd, urged women to create a balance between business and family.

    “When I was breast-feeding, I took my baby as far as Asia for business meetings.

    “As an upcoming entrepreneur, don’t expect to become great overnight. It takes a gradual process to build a multinational company.”

    Seriki expressed optimism that women could take over most Nigerian businesses by 2017.

    No fewer than 1,000 business women were at the event, where products such as smoked fish, handbags, and computer software packages were exhibited.

  • Oyo trains youths in skills

    The Oyo State government has trained 46 youths in various skills, including branding and customising, barbing and hairdressing.

    The beneficiaries, who were drawn from the 33 local government areas of the state, received their work equipment at the state secretariat, Ibadan.

    The youths were trained and empowered by the state Agency for Youths Development.

    Presenting the tools to them, the chairman of the agency, Mr Olugbenga Olayemi said it will would bring many more youths on board this year.

    He said that the project, which was a pilot scheme, was initiated after findings showed that only about five per cent of beneficiaries of similar projects in the past are still in business.

    He explained that the agency decided to do something unique by picking willing youths for a two-week intensive training programme undertaken by experts in the three fields.

    Olayemi said: “They were camped at the IYY Training Village at Egbeda, Ibadan where they were fed and trained by experts,” he said.

    After the training, the beneficiaries were placed on a three-month industrial attachment with thriving practitioners for practical knowledge. During the period, the agency sought shops and paid one year rent for each of the participants. It also got the shops ready for business by painting and decorating them.

    “On completion, we bought all the equipment needed for each trade to enable them run their businesses without hindrance and to run it profitably.  For instance, each of those who trained in branding and customising received a complete set of computer, printer, UPS, scanner, iron, standing fan, executive office chair, two plastic chairs, office table, pressing table, carpet, 2.5 Elepaq generator and a flex sign-post.. This is in addition to the shop and offices already rented for them.”

    Olayemi put the cost of empowering each beneficiary at N250,000. He thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for supporting the project and disclosed that the number of beneficiaries would increase largely this year.

    But he pointed out that they would not be allowed to sell the equipment due to the monitoring mechanism put in place by the agency.

    One of the beneficiaries who spoke with The Nation, Miss Oluremi Kolawwole, a hairdresser, praised the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the gesture.

    According to her, she had learnt hairdressing and was looking for funds to set up when the opportunity came. She lauded the training and industrial attachment, saying it enriched her knowledge of hairdressing.

    “I can handle any type of hair-style now. I can do Ghana weaving, fixing, rolling and setting as well as local weaving,” she said.

  • 35 youths get skills training

    NO fewer than 35 youths in Bori, Rivers State, are to benefit from skill acquisition programmes aimed at reducing unemployment and poverty in the area, Sen. Magnus Abe, said in Bori.

    Abe, who represents Rivers East, said the youths would be trained in manufacturing, welding, fabrication, carpentry, refrigerators and air conditioners repairs as well as joinery.

    Other skills are technical drawing, tender estimation, quantity survey, bricklaying, control and measurement, he said.

    Abe said he initiated the programme to help boost the socio-economic well being of the people.

    He said the programme would equip the beneficiaries with requisite knowledge that would enable them develop business ideas and become useful to themselves and their families.

    According to him, more youths from the district will be recruited for training after the graduation of the present set.

    Abe praised the Rivers State Polytechnic and the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency for their partnership toward empowering youths from the area.