More than 82 skilled technicians competed for honours in categories that include robotics, web and graphic design, plumbing, carpentry, shoemaking and fashion design during Africa’s biggest skills festival sponsored by Sterling Bank at the Landmark Events Centre in Lagos from December 4 -5.
At the end of the two-day skills festival organized by iCreate Africa Limited, 42 winners and 14 national champions emerged.
First of its kind on the African continent, the festival which promotes technical skills and vocational education had in attendance captains of industries, top government functionaries, 50 experts and judges, 200 volunteers and over 2500 local and international guests.
In his keynote address at the event, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank, disclosed that the bank is prepared to stand by skilled professionals who are out there solving the real problems of the country because their successes could inspire others as well as change the prevailing mindset about technical and vocational education.
Mr. Abubakar called for a change in mindset of stakeholders in the Labouré market such that people who are engaged in vocational skills could be respected and supported to earn decent living like their counterparts in white collar jobs. “Vocational skills have been reduced to a point where very few people are proud to say it is what they do for a living.”
He observed that the government alone cannot change the narrative and there was need for collaboration with the private sector. He commended iCreate Skills Africa Limited for working relentlessly to change the mindset of parents, teachers, students and the average person on the street concerning the value of acquiring vocational skills.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Honourable Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of new Federal Science and Technical Colleges in 16 states of the federation in an effort to reposition the nation’s educational system for self-reliance.
The minister noted that technical and vocational education and training hold the key to the development of the country’s industrial sector, adding that the challenges of youth unemployment could best be addressed through quality education that guarantees self-reliance.
Nwajiuba said entrepreneurship education and training is globally recognised as an important strategy for tackling youth unemployment. Consequently, the Federal Government has trained more than 500 science, vocational and mathematics teachers on the use of modern equipment and new approaches in schools, he said.
Pledging to continue to support iCreate in its future endeavours, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment in Lagos State, Mrs. Solape Hammond, remarked that the ministry has trained more than 5,000 youths in different skills and empowered them with loans to start-up or upscale their various businesses.
The commissioner, who was represented by a senior official in the ministry, assured the audience that the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment would not rest on its oars until it has achieved gainful employment for young people in the state.
