By Tayo Joseph Lagos
Towards encouraging the youth to play active role in the socio-economic development of the nation, the Ogun State Government, in partnership with a German agency, Foreign Trade and Investment Services Africa (FTAISA), has launched a vocational skills training for 500 youths.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun, at the flag-off of the Ogun State/FTAISA Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Development Program, held at the Technology Incubation centre, Onijanganjangan, Abeokuta, yesterday, said this is a demonstration of the commitment of his government, towards the development of vocational and technical education.
Amosun, who stated that the training will cover Automotive, Engineering, Building Services, Construction, Business Studies, Digital Technology, Beauty and Hair Dressing, Hospitality and Catering, Land and Animals, Travels and Tourism as well as Healthcare amongst others, enjoined the youths to take advantage of the training.
He assured that youth empowerment, through vocational skills, would be given priority by the state, to address the huge deficit in skills and entrepreneurship in the the country.
In his speech, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Bernhard Schlagheck, said the essence of the initiative was to improve the prospects of youths becoming employers of labour, through solid vocational and technical skills.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, in his address, disclosed that the programme will run in three locations across the state, adding that the plan is to thereafter send the best 50 trainees to Europe.
