NAN-H-41
Training
By Sunday John
Lafia, Oct. 18, 2017 (NAN) Nasarawa State Vocational and Relevant Technology Board (VRTB) has trained over 10,000 youths since its establishment in 1997, the General Manager, Mr Ibrahim Adamu, has said.
Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Wednesday that the centre trained an average of 500 youths yearly.
He said that the four training centres of the board located in Lafia, Doma, Nasarawa and Wamba were well-equipped and had staff strength of 137.
Adamu explained said that the government established the board to empower the youth in different skills to make them self-reliant, reduce poverty and curtail unemployment.
He said the centre equipped youths with skills, such as plumbing, tailoring, barbing, tracking, driving, carpentry, welding and auto mechanics.
Adamu said that the centres trained students from primary one to six using the national school curriculum and availed them with skills, while adults among them received training in diverse fields.
“For the students in primary school, upon completion, they either proceed to technical colleges or open their own workshops to practise the skills they have learnt.
“For the adults, apart from the training which is free, we also give them N3,000 each as monthly stipend to enable them to buy soap to wash their clothes.
“The trainees are encouraged to write the Labour Trade Test Examination to acquire a certificate that they can use to seek employment,’’ Adamu, an engineer, said.
He said that the government, through the board, was working out modalities to provide graduating students working tools and help them access loans to set up businesses.
Adamu commended the state governor for reappointing him as the head of the board and promised to consolidate on his past achievements and those of his predecessors.
He appealed to the government to increase funding to the board to enable it to meet up with regular practical schedules for trainees.
“Funding is one of the major challenges confronting the board because skill acquisition requires regular funds to purchase equipment for practical work.
“I appeal to parents to take advantage of the free training and send their children to any of the centres.
“This will also help to reduce social vices in the state,’’ Adamu said. (NAN)
SDJ/VIV/JCE
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Chukwudi Ekezie