The Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project under the State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has flagged off a 4-day generic training programme for apprentices selected across different vocational skills in Ekiti State as part of steps to strengthen the capacity and skills of artisans in the State

Speaking at the opening of the training programme in Ado-Ekiti, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Olabimpe Aderiye who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Mr. Michael Omolayo stated that the World Bank is supporting the Nigerian Government to design and implement a series of high impact result based programmes aimed at improving skills and developing a competitive and well qualified workforce, capable of adapting to the changing world market and technological progress.

Aderiye said that similar training was conducted in December, 2023 for selected Master Craft Persons (MCPs) in the State as a way of re- engineering skills development, ecosystem to meet labour market needs and preparing Nigeria youths for global relevance.

Aderiye charged the participants at the training programme to leverage on the opportunity of the programme to improve their competence in the identified areas covered by the modular programme stressing that taking full advantage of such privilege can make them become distinguished technicians in their various fields of practice.

She also emphasized that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has reiterated its commitment to shared prosperity in the State, and this can be possible through productive engagement of the youths in both formal and informal sectors, using vocational skills and empowerment programmes that were being introduced to improve the economic base for the shared prosperity in the state.

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Earlier in his remarks, the program facilitator (IDEAS) ASSP-NBTE Kaduna, Dr. Bashir Bukar said, the NBTE had so far conducted the training in five out of six states namely Gombe, Abia, Kano, Edo and Benue.

He said the training programme is not only to improve their competency but to prepare them for some of the reforms that will take place in the informal sector.

Bashir said that the ongoing programme falls under the component 2 of the IDEAS project, which centres on apprenticeship with the sole aim of enhancing the capacity of the Nigerian skills development system in other to promote relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors.

The State Project Coordinator, IDEAS project, Mrs Adenike Akinyemi stated that the Objectives of the training is to improve the skill competence of the Craftsmanship in the informal sector, adding that the stages of the training will address skill gaps of the apprentices and constantly update them with trade skills, soft skills, environmental education, occupational health and safety skills as well as digital training that will enhance their performances for better service delivery at their working place.

She appreciated the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment for developing partners to operate and for the support given to the IDEAS project in the State.

The Project Coordinator charged the beneficiaries to ensure that they acquire more knowledge and work together to utilize the knowledge gained during the training.