The federal government, through the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IDEAS-TVET) Initiative, has trained about 80,000 Nigerians in various skills to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness.
The national project coordinator of IDEAS-TVET, Mrs Blessing Ogwu, disclosed this during the flag-off of the training of another 900 youths in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The training, organised under Cohort 3 of the Federal Ministry of Education programme, is being implemented in collaboration with six Training Service Providers (TSPs) in the state.
Ogwu, who was represented at the ceremony by Mrs Ihuoma Francisca, said the intensive training would equip youths aged between 15 and 35 with practical skills across different occupational areas.
She said 200 trainees would be trained in crop production and processing, while 150 participants each would receive training in computer hardware and cell phone repairs, aquaculture and fisheries, livestock farming, and catering and hospitality management.
Another 100 trainees would receive training in digital skills, including computer hardware and cell phone repairs.
The flag-off ceremony was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Ogwu said the IDEAS-TVET programme had taken skills development directly to about 80,000 Nigerians through Training Service Providers across the country.
She said the beneficiaries had been trained in a wide range of occupational areas, including fashion design, information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, hospitality, construction, electrical installation, automotive-related trades, welding and fabrication, phone repairs, computer maintenance, plumbing and solar installation.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Mr Abiodun Adisa, urged the trainees to take their training seriously and build their careers from whatever opportunities were available to them.
Adisa advised the youths not to despise small beginnings, saying determination and proper application of acquired skills could turn modest ventures into successful businesses.
He said, “It is not all of us that have the resources that will enable us to ‘japa’. I started my turkey business with six turkeys but today it has grown into a very expansive business. So, don’t despise the little beginning.
“No one trained me but you have an advantage because you have experts to train you. You are better placed than I am.
“So, if you have the notion of running away with an excuse that there’s no job, make use of the skills. Everybody wants to be like Aliko Dangote but he started with training too.”
One of the instructors, Dr Folasade Adeboyejo, who specialises in Catering and Hospitality Management, said the IDEAS-TVET programme was designed to strengthen practical skills development and improve access to relevant technical and vocational competencies.
According to her, the programme responds to the growing need for skilled human resources capable of contributing to employment, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and local economic growth.
She said the six TSPs in Oyo State would deliver training in practical skills with strong relevance to the local economy.
Adeboyejo said the Catering and Hospitality Management component would equip participants with competencies in food preparation, baking and confectionery, food safety and hygiene, hospitality operations, customer service, costing, packaging and enterprise management.
In her goodwill message, she encouraged the trainees not to be discouraged by failure but to learn from their experiences and remain determined.
She recounted how she once lost seven chicks daily for one month while also experiencing low fish prices when she ventured into fish farming, but said persistence enabled her to overcome the challenges and become successful.
