The Nation Newspaper

Tag: skills

  • Skills trainees get equipment in Plateau

    Plateau State residents  trained in  entrepreneurial skills have received their equipment to help them start off their new trades.

    The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Rufina Gurumyen  said the Governor Simon Lalong administration would continue its efforts to train youths, women and vulnerable children in the state.

    Hon. Gurumyen stated this during the symbolic presentation of equipment to the trainees held at the Women Multi-purpose center, opposite Plateau Riders in Jos, the state capital.

    She said, “The purpose of the training was to empower the trainees who have acquired different knowledge in skills based on government desires and hope that such training would further improve the lives of the trainees and their families.

    “The various skills acquired during the training at the Apurimac Onlus Nigeria Vocational Centre Rantya and Katako were tailoring, knitting and catering, shoe making, hair dressing and computer operation.

    The commissioner urged the trainees to put what they learnt to good use and even to train others so as to extend the training.

     

  • Constituents trained in skills get work tools

    Constituents trained in skills get work tools

    For 75 residents of Lagos Island Constituency 2, there was no better Yuletide gift than their graduation from three-month intensive skill acquisition training and start-up handouts from their representatives at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Shola Giwa.

    Though about 260 applicants filled the forms for the training scheme in September last year, only 75 of them graduated on December 28, last year and received certificates as well as various start-up equipment/tools from Giwa to kick-start their various trades.

    The 75 graduates were trained in tailoring, hairdressing, shoe making, auto mechanic, and sign writing.  On the graduation day, the lawmaker provided sewing machines for those who trained as tailors, filing machine and gum for shoemakers, mechanical tool box for mechanics, hair dryers, aprons, towels, relaxers for hair dressers, cylinder, drier, cutter, burner, steel ruler, cello tape, and mesh for sign writers.

    The graduation ceremony and presentation of the work tools took place at Eleganza Sports Centre, Lagos Island.

    Speaking at the event, Hon. Giwa said it was a great pleasure for him to be part of the graduation which he said was an important occasion for the trainees who were graduating as qualified artisans.

    “But I also need to say that this initiative is part of a much-bigger picture –the roles our artisans have to play in fighting unemployment directly by providing skilled labour to a skill- starved economy.

    “The trainees completed theoretical and workplace training component of this programme which commenced in October with qualified artisans as supervisors in fulfilment of the artisan training requirements.

    He urged the beneficiaries to part themselves on the back for the inconveniences they endured to reach their goal and in the process, thus making the programme a success.

    “To the  trainees I  say,  the  road  you  have  travelled was long; you faced  a  myriad of  challenges;  but  still  you persevered to reach  this momentous moment.  For  this you can  pat  yourselves on the  back for the  sacrifices you endured  to  reach  your  goal  –  in  the  process, making this programme  a  success.

    “The graduation ceremony marks an important milestone for our government and further re-affirms our commitment to the development and empowerment of our constituents. This day  is  also  proof  that  indeed  our government is  serious about  addressing the  skill gap and drawing  significant  numbers of  the  unemployed into productive work”.

    The lawmaker and Chairman, House Committee on Wealth Creation and Employment said: “The Lagos State Government Employment Trust Fund was established to equip residents with technical and professional training and enhance the professional capacity of artisans and entrepreneurs.”

    Urging artisans to take full advantage of the fund, Giwa said: “It is to set  a  clear and strategic long-term interest  and  commitment  to  technical  and professional  training in the  environment–both to rebuild the professional capacity  of  the  artisans and entrepreneurs–and to contribute to scarce skills required in  the  enhancement of the environment generally.

    “The task is more urgent now as the country is experiencing economic recession. This is why, as part of the initiative to build capacity of trainees in trades and artisans, the programme has explored all channels of learning and empowerment.

    “All of our graduates will get incentives to start their contributions to the economy where they are prepared to make a significant impact.

    “I mustn’t fail to acknowledge the steadfastness of the artisans of Lagos Island. Without their active participation, the course would have been unachievable. I must also commend the graduates.

    “They must know that all they’ve learnt cannot be taken away from them and they should be on the path of sustainability, replication, innovation and creativity.”

    The event also served as a platform for the lawmaker to present awards to the champions and defending champions of the Hon. Sola Giwa inter-school debate competition in Yoruba language which held in November last year.

    The training initiative was in collaboration with the Lagos Island Artisan Association which trained the beneficiaries.

    “It was borne out of their interest and commitment to technical and professional training which would play a role in fighting unemployment directly by providing skilled labour to a skill- starved economy through theoretical and hands-on experience,” he said.

    The Deputy Speaker of Lagos Assembly, who was Special Guest of Honour at the event, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun, commended Giwa for the initiative and harped on the importance of learning a trade and venturing into entrepreneurship.

    He said: “With or without formal education, it is an added advantage and stream of income for you when you render a service or sell goods. It brings about less dependence on your salary.”

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee, Prince Tajudeen Olusi who was the Father of the Day, encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity and empowerment given to them. He stressed the need for inclusion of entrepreneurship training in the curriculum of tertiary institutions in the country, which, he said, is the practice in other climes.

    The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Akin Oyebode also attended the event. He enjoined the beneficiaries and residents of Lagos Island to tap into the opportunities the fund has to offer.

    The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosimi-Etti assured the participants that they would be inducted into their respective trade societies at the state government level and would be entitled to subscriptions; an announcement that was hailed by the beneficiaries.

  • Agency empowers 85 orphans with skills

    Eighty-five orphans and vulnerable children are being trained in various skills for sustainable living, the Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AK-SACA), has said.

    Its Programme Manager, Dr. Nkereuwem Etuk, made this known in Uyo, the state capital at the meeting of the state working technical group on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and AIDS (PMTCT).

    At the meeting, during the week, Etuk said the training was in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, adding that the beneficiaries were trained on skills such as hairdressing, fashion design and catering.

    He said that the training was supported by the World Bank and the trainees would be equipped with starter packs at the end of the exercise in February.

    Etuk said that AK-SACA had formed eight youth-friendly clubs in collaboration with the state Ministry of Youth and Sport on how to stay safe from HIV and AIDS infection.

    He explained that the collaboration with the ministry was targeted at out-of-school-youths, while a similar partnership with the state Ministry of Education was directed at youths and young people in schools.

    The programme manager added that the agency was also  collaborating with some civil society organisations on the uptake of ante natal services by pregnant women in some local government areas.

    The HIV and AIDS Programme Manager, state Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibia Ibia, called for effective engagement of clergymen and opinion leaders in the prevention of HIV and AIDS infection in the state.

    He noted that clergymen, especially in the rural areas have great influence on their members and could help  their behaviour.

    Ibia stated that the 2014 national survey on HIV and AIDS prevalence in Nigeria had placed the state at 10.8 per cent.

    He said the state would conduct its own AIDS indicator survey soon, pleading with all stakeholders to collaborate to scale down the prevalence rate of the scourge.

  • Don advises youths to acquire skills

    The School of Communication and Liberal Studies of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, has held its second International Conference with the theme: Beyond oil: Tackling unemployment inequality and poverty through community participation for national development.

    The three-day conference was held at the auditorium of the School of Agriculture.

    In his keynote speech, Prof Femi Otubanjo advised youths to acquire vocational skills that would enable them contribute to the growth of the economy. If the youths are productive, Otubanjo said they would help in the development of their communities and the nation.

    He said: “Youths must set up goals for their communities and mobilise the elders for support in building a better economy. At the state and national levels, we ought to have an army of skilled youths to drive growth. We need productive young people just as we need traditional rulers to resolve disputes and set goals for their communities.”

    The Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro, lamented the neglect of agriculture, saying young school leavers preferred to work in oil sector, rather than expending their energy in agriculture.

    He noted that the polytechnic shored up its curriculum by providing entrepreneurial skills and opportunities for students, with the aim to be self-reliant and create jobs.

    The rector said: “In the past, Nigeria depended on agricultural produce such as groundnut and cocoa. But with the discovery of oil, people ran away from farm and change their focus to oil to make quick cash. “Similar thing happened in LASPOTECH. The school used to produce eggs, garri and other agricultural produce. The moment we commenced part-time programmes, the school neglected the business. We want a situation students will graduate with adequate skills so that they can be employer of labour, instead of seeking for white-collar jobs.”

     

  • Foundation trains 180 physically-challenged in skills

    Foundation trains 180 physically-challenged in skills

    No fewer than 180 disabled people have passed out of the Bina Foundation for People with Special Needs. The foundation, which was founded by Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, is a non-profit making and charitable organisation which  alleviates the pains and sufferings of the poor and needy and improve the lives of people with special needs.

    Present at  the annual graduation ceremony were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, former Information Minister, Chief Nnia John Nwodo (Jnr) , Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, Enugu, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma and Mrs Betty Akeredolu, the wife of Ondo State Governor-elect.

    The Bina Foundation provided training for the 180 physically-challenged students and indigent widows in computer literacy, catering/fast food, bead making/wire works, tailoring/fashion designing, cosmetology, paint making and hairdressing.

    Others skills they learnt included barbing, shoe and bag making, GSM phone repair, TV and radio repair and musical band.

    The founder and president of Bina Foundation, Lady Atuegwu said: “None of these graduating students will go home empty handed. The foundation will provide resources to assist them in their next phase of life. We will provide all necessary equipment, including sewing machines, gas cookers, hair dryers, barbing salon, beads, GSM phone and TV and radio repairs equipment, among others.

    “We will also disburse start-out cash where possible to enable them to start their own businesses and hopefully become employers of labour.”

    The Bina Foundation fulfilled its promises as all the graduating students received their various equipment and cash where appropriate. Many of the equipment were sourced from donors, the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    To this end, Lady Atuegwu said: “The presence of His Excellency, Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment in Bina Foundation has always given our students a re-assuring sense of belonging. We are happy you are present at this event. May God bless you for your love for the needy and the partnership of the foundation with your ministry.”

    Lady Atuegwu further acknowledged “all the friends of Bina Foundation and all the corporate organisations that had, in one way or the other, supported us. May God bless you all as you continue to give to the less-privileged.

    She congratulated the graduating students on their will power, steadfastness and decision to reject begging, self-pity, laziness in order to acquire skills that will help them in life. She also announced that the foundation would also celebrate the “Widows’ Day of Joy” for the indigent widows in the society with the distribution of Christmas gifts which will include wrappers and rice, among other items to enable them to celebrate Christmas with joy.

    Lady Atuegwu also revealed that the Bina Foundation was able to employ some ex-students of the skills acquisition centre after graduation, adding, “likewise Michelle Laboratories Limited (owned by her husband, Sir  Atuegwu) the major sponsor of Bina Foundation also offers employment to some of our students after graduation.”

    She appealed to other employers of labour “to give employment opportunities to graduates of Bina Foundation in order to help integrate them into the economic activities of the society and give meaning to the new skills they have acquired.”

    The chairman of the occasion, Chief Nnia Nwodo praised the foundation for including widows in its programmes. However, he  passionately appealed to the foundation to include widowers in its programme, at least in the area of psychological assistance.

    “I am saying this because I am using myself as an example. Since I lost my wife about three years ago, I discovered that any house without a woman is not complete. Although I can comfortably provide all the needs of my children, that motherly vacuum needed to be taken care of.”

    He pleaded to the Bina Foundation to extend their visits to motherless homes and offer them psychological message as they still needed that motherly care.

    Nwodo praised Bina Foundation and the Atuegwu family for their selfless services and divine love for humanity.

    “This family is devoting scarce resources to take care of the needy. It is something to be encouraged,” Nwodo said.

  • Skills on display at entrepreneurial fair

    Skills on display at entrepreneurial fair

    Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja in Lagos State was a buzz of activities during its 2016 Entrepreneurial Fair.

    Colourful beaded costume jewelry, handmade souvenirs and decorations, clothes, photographs, and aluminum window fabrications were on display for parents and guests to appreciate or buy.

    The products were the results of one-year skills training all pupils of the school are made to undergo to learn various trades that could start them on the road to self reliance.  Every academic session the pupils are allowed to change to new trades.

    The fair also featured a competition among the pupils in photography and publication, event planning and decoration, fashion design, aluminum fabrication, bead making, and grooming.

    For the contest, the pupils were given a time frame to demonstrate their skills in the various trades to a panel of judges.  Grooming contestants displayed their barbing skills; those in fashion design sewed clothes; jewelry makers made their best assortment of beaded necklaces, while photographers took their best shots and edited them with software tools.

    At the end of a competitive session, Jam Poitier won a set of barbing tools for emerging the best in the grooming category; Edun Adedayo won the bead making category; Ale Tobi won in Aluminum, Aishat Toki won in event planning and decoration, while Lekan Liadi won in Photography.  They all got tools of their trade.

    Abieyuwa Omoigui, who won the fashion design category, was declared overall winner of the competition.  She was rewarded with a sewing machine.

    The SS2 pupil told The Nation that she hoped to build on her fashion skills and start a business that would be internationally recognised.

    “I have been doing fashion since last year.  I chose it because people usually need to give tailors clothes to make for them.  I have interest in sewing and showcasing my designs outside Nigeria.  If I am to choose another skill I will choose photography.  Photographers take pictures and make clothes look very good.  Through these, I would make more money,” she said.

    Speaking on the benefit of the skills training, Success Oke, an SS3 pupil who learnt events planning and decoration, said she can now make jewelry boxes, notebooks with Ankara fabric coverings, and the like.

  • ‘Schools need skills in curriculum’

    In a bid to address the never-ending unemployment situation in the country, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman of Ladela Schools, Abuja, Dr Joshua Usman has said the way out is to inculcate entrepreneurship skills into schools from basic level.

    Usman said this at the inter-house sports competition of the school, adding that the educational system in Nigeria has suffered so many setbacks as a result of change of government and policy somersaults.

    But he assured that unemployment can be taken care of with a bit of modification.

    He said sporting activities in schools should be encouraged and made to be a huge annual event as it keeps humans mentally alert, with the ability of creating the opportunity to sleep very well as well as creating friendship and bond.

    “The educational system in Nigeria generally, has suffered some challenges. The challenges I have noticed personally is policy somersault, you bring one minister today and he brings in a new policy, you bring in one government today and it brings another policy. We went through reform system in those days and it was said we were running the American system. I believe there should be a little bit modification in our educational system. We can introduce entrepreneurship and learning the arts. I believe government is looking into it now by improving the quality of teaching and the policies being brougt into place to promote better quality education.”

    “If entrepreneurial skills are inculcated in the educational system. The issue of unemployment would have been taken care of. ýIf they are taught this from secondary school and how to think outside the box, that will be very great.”

    “I remember how I used to represent my school from plateau state in other parts of the country. Then school sports was a yearly event and we go from one state capital to another. I remember when I was in Owerri for the first time as a result of school sports.”

    “We have a great potential but we are not tapping into it. Sport is very important as it keeps us mentally alert, it gives us the opportunity to sleep very well and too interact properly. It creates friendship and bonding between people.”

  • Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    The Rotary Club District 9110 has begun a three-week intensive training for women and youths.

    The empowerment programme in which 500 people participated began on November 14 and will end on December 3, at St Leos Catholic Street along Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos. It was inaugurated by the Governor of the District, Patrick Ikheloa.

    Some of the skills the beneficiaries will learn include bead making, bag and shoe making, event planning and decoration, makeup, gele tying, catering and hotel management as well as hat and fascination making.

    According to Chairman of the Organising Committee, Taiwo Shonubi, the event was instituted to support people in becoming self-reliant and economically viable in order to survive the current economic recession.

    It was part of activities to mark the Club’s Economic and Community Development Seminar for the year. Resource persons were on hand to train and lecture many of the beneficiaries who turned out in their numbers to take advantage of the rare opportunity that will help them to gain knowledge of the handiwork of their dreams.

    Each club sponsored five participants.

    Another of their activities held the previous week was a seminar on Agriculture tagged “Transformation towards Agriculture”

    Chief Executive Officer of X-ray Farms, African farmer Mogaji, spoke on Agriculture Investment as an alternative income source. He called on all to leverage on available resources, stressing on the value of information and knowledge gotten from other sectors.

    He noted that sustenance is crucial to having cheaper quality food; and small-scale farmers can be helped by giving them quality input for their crop production rather than money.

    He also warned that government should not ban importation of rice at least for three years, but should focus on local production and develop more storage facilities.

    “Nigeria has signed many treaties that won’t allow them ban rice. But after government have intensified local production, they can then develop a roadmap to increase its tariff in the next five years. That way, they are supporting businesses and farmers to produce enough rice for the next three years, within which there would be enough rice to feed the nation.

    “Also, it is not that government has no good intentions on this, but climate change will affect rice production. Thus, there is the need to look into the organic approach and the process of food production.

    Head, Agricultural Department of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Maximus Okoye spoke on financing perspective in ensuring the needed transformation in agriculture.

    He noted that agriculture is pillar to industrial development. He praised the adoption of the different intervention programmes of the government, which he said has helped agric-business.

    Professor of Economics at Caleb University, Olufemi Oludimu gave a presentation  on strategies for marketing agriculture. He urged all to leverage on untapped opportunities and look into food exports.

  • Unemployment: ITF to fill youths’ skills gap

    Unemployment: ITF to fill youths’ skills gap

    About 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will benefit from the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), its Acting Director–General Dickson Chinedum, has said.

    He listed some of the beneficiaries as Sokoto, Kwara, Ogun, Katsina, Cross River, Lagos, Adamawa and Ebonyi. Others are Abia, Anambra, Borno, and Plateau.

    The ITF chief said NISDP was aimed at closing the skills’ gaps in youths which made them unemployable. This, according to him, has made it mandatory to equip the youth with skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

    Chinedum further said the NISDP, which began in 2012, would furnish the human capacity requirements of the National Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP), a scheme put in place by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to fast-track the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

    The ITF chief explained: “In the light of the result of the interim report of ITF/United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Skills Gap Survey, management has set in motion process to commence graduate up-skilling programme for the purpose of re-skilling 3,000 graduates of engineering and technology with vocational and entrepreneurial skills in the six geo-political zones.

    “This is aside from the ongoing review of the ITF/DVT (GERMAN chamber of Crafts and Commerce) collaboration, which seeks to train apprentices in line with the German dual system. The programme matches skills development with market needs and contributes in reducing unemployment by providing competences for job creation.”

    Chinedum said ITF entered into a deal with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) in 2009 to provide technical and vocational skills training to young Nigerians using ITF facilities and those of members of the organised private sector.

    He said to provide opportunity for evaluation and validation of skills requirement at national and state levels, ITF was collaborating with UNIDO to establish Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).

    He said 9,500 youths, translating to 500 youths per state and the FCT, aged between 18 and 35, would be trained in 38 trade and craft areas.

    He explained that this would be based on their projected value addition to citizens of the states and their potential to provide a sustainable means of livelihood for youths in their states.

  • Firm trains Delta, Kaduna youths in skills

    Firm trains Delta, Kaduna youths in skills

    In October 10, in Kaduna State and October 18 in Koko, Delta State, 47 candidates were interviewed for eligibility into Total Nigeria Plc’s Skills Acquisition Programme.

    The programme eligibility criteria included that the candidates must be youths who are indigenous to the host communities. They must be less-privileged and show enthusiasm to understudy a vocation of their choice and possess abilities to communicate effectively.

    In Kaduna State, the interview panel comprised representatives of Total Nigeria Plc, namely Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Albert Mabuyaku, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mrs. Chinwe Ifechigha, Kaduna Plant Manager, Mr. Daniel Chukwu and Production Planning Engineer, Mrs. Hope Nnaji.

    The community representatives included the District Scribe of Makera, Alhaji Yusuf and District Scribe of Kakuri, Alhaji Yero who stand as guarantors for the candidates. Twenty candidates were interviewed out of which 10 were selected to train for various vocations of their choice such as tailoring, welding and fabrication, hair dressing and carpentry, among others.

    In Koko Delta State, the community representatives were members of the Koko Community Management Authority (KCMA), Mr. Solomon Mikie, Mrs. Rose Kpenosen, Mr. Emmanuel Oti and Mr. Samson Edun.

    Twenty-Seven candidates were interviewed out of which 5 candidates were selected for this year’s programme. They are Ruth Aduwenye, Ololo Oritsegbe-gbemi, Beatrice Bemigho, Bojor Bemigho and Joseph Bathuel.  Another five candidates were selected for the 2017 programme. They are Ogunwo Endurance, Henrietta Ede, Glory Nesiama, Nanna Appearance and Azuka Enebeli.