The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has trained about 80,000 Nigerians under the Technical, Vacational Education and Training (IDEAS-TVET) Initiative as part of efforts to equip youths with practical skills and provide employment opportunities.
Speaking with journalists during the flag-off of the Cohort 3 IDEAS-TVET training programmer at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara state, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, said the programme was designed in response to concerns from industries that many graduates lacked the practical skills required to secure employment.
He explained that the six months training initiative was aimed at bridging the gap between academic qualifications and the skills demanded by employers through vocational training, skills development and acquisition of relevant knowledge.
According to him, the trainees, after undergoing classroom training, are also exposed to selected industries and enterprises to gain practical experience and understand how their acquired skills could be applied.
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He said the training covered various areas, including agriculture, poultry, crop production, animal husbandry and other non-farming enterprises such as fashion design, ICT, hospitality, construction, electrical installation, automotive trades, welding and fabrication, plumbing and solar installation, among others.
Oladunni said that the ARMTI handled 200 trainees under the programme, while Emmanuel-NIK and Gold Limited and Joephish Global services limited took care of 150 trainees each, drawn from across the country.
Also speaking on behalf of the relevant ministries in the programme, the representative of the federal ministry of Education, Ajagbe Olatubosun, said the programme was designed to equip young Nigerians with skills that would make them self-reliant and productive members of society.
Olatubosun said the Federal Government’s objective was to reduce joblessness by empowering youths with practical skills and opportunities to establish businesses.
He said that the six-month training programme would be followed by empowerment, including the provision of start-up capital and equipment to beneficiaries.
He urged the trainees to take the training seriously, attend their sessions regularly and make proper use of the knowledge acquired.
He advised beneficiaries to invest the empowerment funds in productive ventures rather than spending them on personal or family needs.
Earlier, the National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS Project, Mrs. Blessing Ogwu, represented at the event in her speech said that the initiative had made significant investments in Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector.
The representative said the IDEAS Project, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with World Bank support, had invested in infrastructure, equipment, human capacity development and skills training.
The project, according to the speech, had supported the upskilling of about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors, while about 80,000 Nigerians had benefited from skills training through Training Service Providers across the country.
The representative urged the trainees to see the opportunity as more than a government intervention, but as a platform to acquire skills capable of generating income and creating employment.
The trainees were also reminded that they must maintain at least 65 per cent attendance every month to qualify for the N30,000 monthly allowance promised under the programme.
The representative said regular attendance would ensure that participants received adequate practical exposure and completed the required learning hours.
The Training Service Providers and facilitators were equally urged to maintain high standards, monitor attendance, provide practical training and mentor the beneficiaries throughout the programme.
The representative, on behalf of the National Project Coordinator, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, formally declared the Cohort 3 IDEAS-TVET Initiative training open.
The programme is expected to provide beneficiaries with practical skills that can support employment, entrepreneurship and improved livelihoods.
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