About 100 youths selected from Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday benefitted from the Federal Government’s Youths Empowerment Programme aimed at providing new skills and modernizing activities of artisans in plumbing vocation.
The programme is part of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure’s (NASENI) nationwide initiative to empower youths and create jobs for them.
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Speaking in Ibadan where plumbing equipment, tools and diagnostic kits worth several millions of naira were handed over to the beneficiaries, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the agency to equip youths to reverse the trend of importing artisans.
He said the target included modern massive skill acquisition trainings for artisans to be able to cope with global challenges.
He said the training was aimed at reversing over reliance on artisans from neighbouring countries.
“President Buhari’s intention is the prosperity of the youths and job satisfaction so they could take their plumbing work seriously and move to the highest level of efficiency and professionalism in plumbing.
“Artisans from neighbouring African countries today are taking over the few occupational jobs available in the built environment and in construction industry.
“The president has empowered NASENI to lead the nation to a manufacturing economy and undoubtedly this type of skill development is key pre-requisite, that is – competent workforce.”
“The skill development in many specialized areas of need is ongoing and the trainees are expected to train others.
“The 100 participants in Oyo State were carefully selected through due diligence are all receiving their modern tools as start-ups.
“They have automatic membership of a platform of NASENI for continuous knowledge and experience sharing in the dynamic area of their chosen occupation,” he added.
Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Science Research Institutes, Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi, according to the statement, expressed Ibadan citizens’ gratitude to Buhari and NASENI for the intervention.
