By: Bola Ojuola, Akure.
The Ondo State Government has certified 500 young artisans in various technical and vocational trades under a free trade test programme designed to improve employability, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the state’s skilled workforce.
The initiative, organised by 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, is aimed at bridging the gap between informal skills acquisition and formal recognition.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Akure, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti, described the programme as a significant intervention in youth empowerment and sustainable economic development.
Aiyedatiwa said technical and vocational skills remained essential to economic growth, stressing that artisans, including electricians, automobile technicians and other skilled workers, play important roles in driving economic activities and improving livelihoods.
“Skills must not only be acquired, they must also be properly assessed, recognised and certified. Certification provides artisans with evidence of competence and gives prospective employers and customers greater confidence in their abilities,” the governor said.
He said formal certification would make the beneficiaries more competitive and create opportunities for them to access employment, expand their businesses and contribute more effectively to the economy.
The governor urged the beneficiaries to regard their certificates as evidence of competence and professionalism, rather than mere documents, charging them to deploy their skills responsibly and continue to improve their expertise.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari, represented by the Ondo State Controller of the ministry, Mrs Olanike Mogboruko, said the changing nature of the global labour market had increased the demand for technical and vocational skills.
She particularly highlighted renewable energy as an emerging area with significant opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship and employment.
“The world of work is changing rapidly, and the demand for technical and vocational skills continues to increase. Solar energy and related renewable-energy technologies are 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,” she said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Vocational and Technical Education, Tayo Oluyi, said the certification programme was conceived to formally recognise artisans who had acquired practical skills but lacked government-approved certificates to advance their careers.
“The essence of this certification is to address the situation of artisans who are truly skilled but have no certification that could advance their careers and make them more employable by industries and relevant agencies,” Oluyi said.
He explained that the beneficiaries were selected through an online application process conducted in accordance with federal guidelines, adding that applicants between 18 and 35 years were considered for the programme.
Oluyi further disclosed that the state government was creating additional opportunities for young people through specialised vocational training, including a programme to train 50 automobile technicians in compressed natural gas conversion and maintenance in collaboration with ISA Public Health Services.
He said the state’s vocational and technical institutions currently provide training in several trades, including electrical installation, welding and fabrication, motor mechanics, refrigeration and air-conditioning, solar photovoltaic installation, computer hardware maintenance, plumbing, tiling, GSM repairs and agriculture.
He added that the expansion of training and certification opportunities was part of efforts to equip young people with practical skills capable of translating into employment, self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
