The National Agency for Science and Engineering, NASENI, has commenced the training of 100 youths on modern methods of electrical installation and maintenance in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
The youths, who are drawn from states within Nigeria’s south-south region, would be trained for one week at the Construction and Fabrication Academy of West Africa in Calabar.
Job Creation
According to the Executive Vice Chairman and Executive of NASENI, Professor Mohammed Haruna, the training is geared towards the implementation of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives on skill acquisition and youth empowerment for job creation.
“Electrical installation, repairs and maintenance will no longer be metre conduits, piping or trunking of cable channel and streaming overhead conductors. It is beyond the provision of lighting points and sockets outlets. It is about automation remote sensing, remote control and wireless operation.”
He further stated, “This training is to familiarize the trainees not only on the current advances of the new and emerging technologies in electrical installation, repair and maintenance as well as prepare and equip them and build adequate competencies to meet the challenges and opportunities of the development anticipated of the shape and nature of the next industrial revolution.”
Building Capacities
In a remark to declare the training open, the Cross River deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu commended NASENI for bringing the training to the academy.
Esu said, “This training programme is very important for Nigeria and for the academy. We do hope that in future many other programmes especially in plumbing, tiling and other artisanal works will be organized here by the institution.”
The Deputy Governor pledged the commitment of the state government to the growth of technology and science in general, noting “We hope to perform a ground breaking for another institute besides the numerous factories, which have commenced production.”
Esu urged NASENI to continue to partner with Cross River State to develop skills in modern technology for the teeming youths by also partnering with the state owned tertiary institutions.
Earning Incomes
He charged the participants to be attentive, committed and focused so as to derive maximum benefit from the training and urged, “After the training you will be given starter packs to begin your journey as entrepreneurs, I humbly appeal to you all to utilize the package rather than sell off the packs as some in the past have be noted to do.
“This would not speak well of you and may likely defeat the aim of skill development and empowerment programmes such as these. I once again appeal to all of you to take this as part of efforts to ensure you earn income for yourselves and your families. The more people you are able to employ, the better for our society.”
Some of the trainees expressed gratitude to President Buhari for the gesture, pledging to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired to become future employers of labour.
The chairman of the occasion, the member representing Bekwara, Obudu and Obanliku in the House of Representatives, Mr Legor Idagbo commended NASENI for locating the south-south skill acquisition in Cross River State and urged the participants to avail themselves the opportunity to change their future.
PIAK
