Michael Onwuka, Enugu
The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TVET) Programme under its Project T-MAX Initiative in Enugu State
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Education Interventions, Mr Fela Bank-Olemoh, said the project was aimed at training 15, 000 persons across seven pilot states in their chosen fields.
Bank-Olemoh mentioned the states to include Enugu, Ogun, Edo, Kaduna Nassarawa, Gombe, Lagos, adding that the beneficiaries would be trained in technical and vocational skills in order to be self-reliant.
He said that the skills would fall under Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Building and Construction, Fashion, Engineering Services, Agripreneur and Agro-packaging.
He, however, said that 2000 persons would benefit in Enugu State.
“This pilot phase of the project will run from August until December 2022 with more than 16 skills to be deployed across the states.
“These skills are subject to modification or addition depending on our engagement with key stakeholders in the state,” he said.
He said that the programme would encourage more participation for females and people with disability.
During a courtesy visit on Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Bank-Olemoh solicited the support of the state government and the stakeholders, adding that the vision was to give skills to Nigerians.
Bank-Olemoh said that his team had met with operators of 29 TVET centers who would conduct the training in the state.
“We have met with operators of the training centers that will be the key drivers of the programme in the state.
“This will serve as a model for the expansion of technical and vocational skills acquisition across the country.
“We believe that strong partnership with the state governments is critical to achieving the Federal Government’s goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030,” he said.
He said that prospective trainees would register online and physically at designated TVET centres, adding that the registration portal for Enugu State would open on Sept. 9, 2022.
Bank-Olemoh said that out of the 2000 persons that would be trained in Enugu, only 40 per cent of them would get stater packs.
Responding, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, commended the Federal Government for considering Enugu in the pilot stage.
The governor said that the project was introduced at a time when Nigerians needed to be productive and create jobs.
He said that the state government would give the project the needed support to enable it succeed in the state.
Ikengaonline reports that the programme was approved by the National Steering Committee on National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS).
It is one of the core interventions to achieve the Federal Government’s goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.
