Effective technical and vocational education and training is the transformation of every society for sustainable growth and improvement in the quality of life.
This is the view of Dickson Onuoha, acting director-general, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), at the graduation of trainees sponsored by ITF and Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to undergo training in fashion designing at Ruff N Tumble, a fashion outfit in Lagos.
The training is part of the implementation of the technical skills development project handled by NECA and ITF to promote employment and economic self-reliance among the youths. The youths are usually selected through a keenly contested process and sent to NECA member organisations for training in different skills.
Onuoha said the funds was committed to replicate its mandates as contained in the amendment Act Cap 19 of 300 June 2016, to evaluate and certify vocational skills acquired by apprentices, craftsmen and technicians in collaboration with NECA on the technical skills development aimed at empowering the youths.
Segun Oshinowo, director-general of NECA, represented by Celine Oni, noted that since commencement of the programme over three years ago, over 5,000 Nigerian youths had been given one-year free technical/vocational training during which trainees were supported with transport allowance, lunch and instructional material throughout the duration.
Some of the skills covered are autotronics, information and communication technology, tiling and interlocking saving and knitting, welding and fabrication.
She said great transformation had taken place in the life of the graduands as they would excel in the world of business because they had been technically equipped in the business of fashion design, commended the Ruff N Tumble brand for maintaining high standard in imparting knowledge and the right technical skills.
