Over 54 Nigerian youths will be participating in the National Sewing Championship (NSC) 2024 boot camp billed to hold in Abuja from the 1st to 7th of September.
At the just concluded state-level competition in the 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over 1000 youths participated.
Speaking to the Media at the conclusion of the state-level competition, the Coordinator of the NSC 2024, Rosemary Osikoya Ojechenemi explained that over 1,000 contestants aged between 12 and 22 years in 26 States and the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) took part in the National Sewing Championship 2024 qualifying competitions on August 21, 2024.
“The competition which has Junior/ Basic Education category for contestants aged 12 – 15/16 and youth Category for young adults aged 16-22 years is aimed at identifying great talents and incentivizing and nurturing young adults of school age to develop skills and competencies which meets global standards for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities”.
According to Ojechenemi, “The vision of the Sewing Championship is to identify and promote student/ Youth-interpreneurship (Vocational talent hunt), engage & incentivize students and youths to commit to developing Vocational skills and competencies that meet global standards as a co-curricular activity.
“At the same time advocation stakeholders support to technical, vocational education & training (TVET) and facilitating access to equipment & tools.
“The partnership support and commitment of 26 States and FCT demonstrated by the provision of venues for the competitions, funding & supporting partners at the Federal level: NASENI, NABTEB, UBEC, NSSEC, NTA, Rexturn publishing, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Federal Ministry of Education, SMEDAN, NMEC, NCAC, NGOs etc have helped shown that Nigerians truly are committed to nation building”.
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She stated that the support provided for the NSC24 so far shows that education “stakeholders are passionate and open to exploring innovative initiatives to strengthen quality education and self-reliance as envisioned by Nigeria’s philosophy of education.
“54 best contestants at the NSC24 States & FCT Qualifying Competitions will compete at the 5-day fully residential NSC24 finals & Up skilling Sewing Boot Camp scheduled to hold September 1-7, 2024 in the FCT.
“Prizes for the championship are contributed by States (Governor’s Sewing Award for best state contestant(s), Federal MDAs and philanthropic organizations & individuals.
“The NSC24 is planned to be a yearly Vocational skills competition which is concluded during the long vacation period (July – August)”.
Ojechenemi also said “Vocational skills projects require use of equipment and tools and consumables which explains why most school instructions are theoretical due to funding gaps.
“Given current economic realities, an electric Sewing machine costing about N500,00 and manual sewing machines costing N190,000 each, Stakeholders funding support (both technical and funding) is thus solicited to make the National Sewing Championships subsidized and accessible for all targeted young adults upon whose shoulders rest the future of Nigeria”.
The NSC24 was flagged off by the Honourable Minister for Youth Development on July 16.2024 as part of the activities to commemorate the World Youth Skills Day 2024.
Osikoya stated that the NSC24 project will support grassroots-level job creation, self-employment and functional Vocational skills development, especially at basic and secondary education levels
“This is the pilot National Sewing Championship, the Pilot Schools Sewing Championship 2023 (SSCP23) was approved by UNESCO and funded under the UNESCO Participation Programme 2022-23 and piloted in the FCT in 2023 with support from various Federal MDAs, the FCTA and many corporate and Non-Government organizations and individuals” Osikoya noted.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE