The Edo State Government in collaboration with the
Industrial Training Fund (ITF) on Wednesday, handed starter-packs to 467 people
who participated in the second phase of the National Industrial Skills
Development Programme (NISDP).....
Speaking on Wednesday at the closing ceremony at
the Government House in Benin City, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki,
commended the ITF for collaborating with the state government in its resolve to
create 200,000 jobs in the state. “We want to change the narrative that
vocational jobs are inferior to white-collar jobs. We must create small and
medium scale enterprises for our nation to develop because it is the most
viable way to create jobs,” he said. The governor urged the beneficiaries of
the training to put into efficient use the starter- packs by setting up their
own small-scale businesses as the state government will provide working capital
for them. He, however, warned the beneficiaries, who were drawn from the 18
local government areas of the state, not to sell the starter-packs as the
progress of their businesses would be monitored. The starter-packs given to the
trainees included 150 sewing machines, 142 ovens and gas cylinders, 50 welding
machines and 125 complete computer sets. In his address at the event, the
Director General of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari, said the initiative to equip youths
with skills is in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure
sustainable development in the country. Ari commended the state governor for
ensuring each trainee got starter-packs and added that it would go a long way
in helping them unleash their inherent talent. The DG hailed Obaseki for
investing in vocational education, noting that his agency was ready to train
more manpower at the Benin Science and Technical College. The participants were
trained in fashion designing, pastry making, welding and fabrication and Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) for about three months.
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