The Ondo State Board for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the German Centre for Migration and Development, has certified 500 artisans in various technical and vocational skills. The beneficiaries, who had acquired practical skills without formal certification, were certified under a free trade test programme designed to improve their employability, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the state’s skilled workforce.
The programme was flagged off in Akure, the state capital, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, describing the initiative as an intervention in youth empowerment and sustainable economic development. Aiyedatiwa said the programme aimed to bridge the gap between informal skills acquisition and formal recognition, noting that technical and vocational skills were essential to economic growth.
The governor emphasized that electricians, automobile technicians and other skilled workers played important roles in driving economic activities and improving livelihoods. He said skills must not only be acquired, but also properly assessed, recognised and certified, adding that certification provides artisans with evidence of competence and gives prospective employers and customers greater confidence in their abilities.
Aiyedatiwa urged the beneficiaries to regard their certificates as evidence of competence and professionalism and charged them to deploy their skills responsibly while continuing to improve their expertise. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, said the changing nature of the global labour market had increased the demand for technical and vocational skills, identifying renewable energy as an emerging area with opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship and employment.
Maigari, represented by the Ondo State Controller of the ministry, Mrs Olanike Mogboruko, noted that solar energy and related renewable-energy technologies were becoming increasingly important, not only as alternatives to conventional sources of energy, but also as areas with significant opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship and employment. The Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo Governor on Vocational and Technical Education, Tayo Oluyi, said the certification programme was designed to formally recognise artisans who had acquired practical skills but lacked government-approved certificates to advance their careers.
Oluyi explained that the beneficiaries were selected through an online application process conducted in accordance with Federal Government guidelines, adding that applicants aged between 18 and 35 were eligible for the programme. The certification programme is expected to make the beneficiaries more competitive and create opportunities for them to access employment, expand their businesses and contribute more effectively to the economy.
The programme is a collaboration between the Ondo State Board for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the German Centre for Migration and Development, aimed at promoting youth empowerment and sustainable economic development in the state.
Key points
- The programme certified 500 artisans in various technical and vocational skills.
- The certification programme aims to bridge the gap between informal skills acquisition and formal recognition.
- The programme is expected to make the beneficiaries more competitive and create opportunities for them to access employment.
