German-Nigerian partnership trains youths on industrial mechanics
Federal Republic of Germany in partnership with key stakeholders in Nigeria have embarked on another vocational training targeted at enhancing employability of Nigerian youths.
The project has trained and graduated another set of Nigerian youths in Industrial Mechanics aspect of the ongoing German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria, (G-DVTPW-N).
According to the G-DVTPW-N programme Coordinator, kehinde Stephen Awoyele, G-DVTPW-N is an initiative of Federal Republic of Germany and is geared towards rising the employability bar of Nigerian youths and reducing poverty in the country. It is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and conducted by sequagGmbH. It’s steered by the CCI Giessen-Friedberg as the German project partner.
Awoyele pointed out that, “The project is about three-month rigorous class training with all tools, with local and foreign experts and nine-month field experience in different nominated companies.
The first aspect of the training project which was kicked off in 2012 was in Industrial Mechanics and Industrial Electronics and it witnessed 23 apprentices graduated, while the second aspect was in Office Administration in which 11 apprentices graduated”.
Others partners in the project includes Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian German Business Association (NGBA), Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture from Abuja and Ogun States (ABUCCIMA and OGUNCCIMA), Delegation of German Industry and Commerce (DGIC/AHK Lagos), Nigeria.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held in Lagos, which witnessed presentation of certificates of proof of participation to 29 trained apprentices, the Head of Training, Industrial Training Fund/ Industrial Skills Training Center (ITF/ISTC), Ibrahim Balogun, said such programme is more imperative, important and relevant now that Nigeria is grappling with recession.
“What makes developed country developed is vocation through the engagement of skilled artisans and craftsmen by industries for products manufacturing. The programme is a booster to vocational training in Nigeria and it will ensure our unemployed youths are taken back from the streets and engaged in skillful trade, so that they can be self-employed and as well become employers of labour,” he added.
In her own reaction, the Head, Business Education Services and Training (BEST) Unit, LCCI, FolukeOloniyo said as regards the present state of economy and level of unemployment in the country vocational empowerment is the best way to go.
“There are few items in the system, and a lot of money to be made. If you can get people to create their own jobs, you can address recession,” he posited.
In a similar statement, the Managing Director, FAE Limited, Princess Layo BakareOkeowo, said, the training is capable of preventing breakdowns in the industry and increasing output.
In a comparison, she stressed that, “Vocational training is the inn thing- China today is achieving much because of focus on crafts and technology. If federal Government can the more invest in vocational empowerment, it will boost manufacturing and exportation in Nigerian and as well increase the GDP.”
The Examination Board Chairman of the programme, Jens Gebhardt, was of the view that, “Now that Nigeria is experiencing bad economy it needs to invest in human skills that can grow up Nigeria economy in some years. Industrialists also need to invest in their apprentices, workers and machinists in order to have good skills for future purposes. ”
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