By Angela Atabo
The Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, has trained 200 Nigerian youths in construction-related trades.
The President of FOCI, Mr Vincent Barrah, said the initiative was designed to prepare young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to the country’s infrastructural development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was implemented under the Nigeria Youth Employment through Skills Acquisition Fund (NYESAF), an integral component of the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project.
Barrah, who congratulated the beneficiaries, urged them to take the training seriously and maximise the opportunity provided by the programme.
He disclosed that the beneficiaries comprised 100 trainees in masonry, 50 in plumbing and another 50 in carpentry.
He said the FOCI Skills Academy was incorporated in 2019 to provide vocational training in construction and general contracting and bridge skills and gender gaps in the industry.
According to him, the academy had demonstrated the transformative power of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in empowering individuals and communities.
“Through our Academy, we have seen firsthand, the transformative power of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET),” Barrah said.
He explained that skills in masonry, plumbing, carpentry and electrical work could lift individuals, families, communities and the nation.
Barrah said the FOCI Skills Academy had become a recognised name in the skills acquisition sector and had earned the respect of national and international trainers.
He said the NYESAF project had taken the academy’s intervention further by placing emphasis on women and youths as part of efforts to address social imbalance.
According to him, a truly modern construction industry could not be built while a significant proportion of the nation’s population remained underrepresented.
Barrah said FOCI, as the voice of Nigeria’s construction sector, had consistently championed policies, interventions and partnerships aimed at strengthening the industry.
He added that the federation was also committed to supporting workers through training and other capacity-building initiatives.
He said FOCI had more than 100 member companies and was involved in advocacy, collective bargaining, training, standard-setting, representation and publication of industry journals.
Barrah pledged the federation’s continued collaboration with the IDEAS/NYESAF programme to expand training opportunities to other trades.
He listed the proposed areas of expansion to include electrical work, welding and fabrication, vulcanising and solar installation.
He urged the beneficiaries to make the necessary sacrifices to acquire the skills and become competent professionals in their chosen trades.
The National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS Project Nigeria, Mrs Blessing Ehi-Ogwu, said the programme was designed to help reduce unemployment and other social vices.
Ehi-Ogwu said the initiative would equip young Nigerians with practical skills capable of providing sustainable livelihoods.
She disclosed that beneficiaries were required to maintain at least 65 per cent attendance to qualify for the final starter pack and monthly stipend.
She urged the trainees to pay particular attention to practical sessions, stressing that the programme was focused on demonstrable skills rather than certificates.
“We are not emphasising on certificate; we are emphasising on what you can do with your hand,” she said.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, commended FOCI Skills Academy for its commitment to equipping young Nigerians with practical and industry-relevant skills.
Bugaje said Nigeria’s economic future depended significantly on competent, innovative and employable young people who could create value and contribute to national development.
He stressed that technical and vocational education should not be regarded merely as an alternative to university education.
According to him, TVET was an essential foundation for economic growth, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable development.
Mr Yerima Baba of the N-Power Programme, FCT, urged the beneficiaries to remain focused, punctual and disciplined throughout the training.
Mr Adetunji Adeniran, the Registrar of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), represented by the Project Manager, Mr Fwangshak Hirse, urged the trainees to respect their skills and embrace professionalism.
Adeniran advised them to pursue continuous improvement while prioritising punctuality, safety, accurate measurement, quality and integrity in their work.
“No one will remember you for the certificates you will collect after this training. The world will remember you for the structures that stand because you did your work diligently,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Miss Stella Ewuro, said the training had transformed her career prospects after graduating as an accountant, adding that she had previously trained in masonry and returned to acquire skills in carpentry.
Ewuro expressed appreciation to the organisers and facilitators, promising that the beneficiaries would participate actively, learn diligently and apply the skills acquired to benefit their families and communities.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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