Nov.30,2023 09:04
The Federal Government is working to set up training hubs for welders and artisans in the six geo-political zones of the country .
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology disclosed this when he received Executives of Ikeja Computer village Lagos, in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
The minister said his ministry and Ministry of Labour and Employment are collaborating to address the challenge of non-certification facing Nigerian welders and artisans, which limits them in the job market.
He said after their training, certificates would be issued as professional certification which would enhance their chances to better job offers and better pay.
“At our retreat with the Permanent Secretary, I told them that we are losing 10 billion dollars because some of our youths don’t have certification.
“When they were building the Dangote refinery, Dangote imported about 11, 000 welders from outside Nigeria.
“And these welders were paid 150 dollars every day, and that work went on for over two years, yet we have welders here who are even more qualified but they don’t have certification,’’ he said.
Nnaji stressed that as a matter of urgency, they were also addressing the issue in the area of ICT.
The minister told his visitors that a committee was set up, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed with the Federal Ministry of Technology, Minna as the institution to award the certificates.
He said the MoU was equally signed with other private sector companies that would be responsible for the trainings.
“It’s a simple registration and at the end of the training, they get their certificates so that the issue of not having certificates to work would no longer exist,’’ Nnaji said.
The minister assured of the readiness to collaborate with the Ikeja Computer Village Association, adding that the collaboration would help move the country forward.
He said this was in line with Presidential Executive Order 5, and President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
He however said that the ministry would look into the draft MoU brought by the association.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr James Sule, commended the association for their contribution to the development of Nigeria, as outlined in their turnover in billions.
Sule also commended them for the employment opportunities given to Nigerian youths, for expanding their networks with established structures across the country and promoting Made in Nigeria goods.
“We want to assure you that our scientists are ready in the area that you want them to help in research and development,’’ Sule said.
Mr Anthony Nwekeze, President of the association said Ikeja Computer Village is the largest ICT market in Africa with annual turnover of two billion dollars as reported by Vanguard of April 18, 2013.
“Conservatively speaking, we have already outgrown this figure by over 300 per cent as at today,’’ Nwekeze said.
He requested that the ministry should assist the association in brokering a professional and cordial relationship with the Chinese and United States Embassies, with an MoU.
According to him, this would promote business activities between the association and other business partners of these countries.
He said it would be interesting for government, the ministry and their association to host and appreciate Nigeria young stars that has immensely contributed to economic development via their personal efforts. (NAN)
