The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Skills Upgrading and Vocational Training Model Centre, Bauchi. has trained 26,766 graduates since inception.
The Principal of the centre, Mr Benjamin Koya, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Bauchi.
Koya said the centre offers two training exercises, including regular and sponsorship programmes annually.
He said that the regular programme is being conducted in two batches and trained 8,766 beneficiaries, while 18,000 graduates have been produced through sponsorship programmes.
The principal said that the sponsored beneficiaries included participants under the N-Power and Industrial Training Fund (ITF) programmes, trained in 17 vocational skills.
Koya listed the skills to include aluminium fabrication; welding, plumbing, building, carpentry, hairdressing, pedicure and leatherwork.
Others are CCTV installations; catering and hotel management, Plaster-of-Paris (POP), paintings and decorations, motor vehicle maintenance, computer maintenance, computer operation, tailoring and dressmaking.
Koya said that prospective trainees were required to demonstrate willingness to learn, purchase an admission form of N4,000, and pay a N56,000 school and accommodation fees.
He said that the trainees were drawn from Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Gombe States.
“We run two programmes in a year. The first is our regular programme, which runs for six months in two batches.
“The second is a two-week National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), sponsored by the federal government under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
“After the exercise, graduates receive statements of results, and proceed for the compulsory three-month industrial attachment,” he said.
Koya added that trainees were subsequently certified and given starter packs, to enable them to set up their businesses.
He said that the certificate has been gazetted into the federal and state governments’ scheme of service, to assist beneficiaries in securing employment with government institutions, private companies, and opportunities outside Nigeria.
“With our certificate and Trade Test Certificate of Competence, you can ascend to Grade Level 14 in the federal or state civil services,” he said.
He said that the Trade Test Certificate of Competence is being issued to qualified skilled workers and artisans, who successfully demonstrated proficiency in their chosen trades.
According to Koya, skills acquisition avails youths the opportunity to become self-reliant, earn sustainable income, and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
On challenges, Koya identified inadequate funding, limited resources and lack of modern training equipment as militating against effective operations of the centre.
While calling for awareness creation activities to mobilise participation in its programmes, Koya advocated for the creation of an enabling business environment to encourage growth of small businesses at the grassroots. (NAN)
