11 persons has been trained in the first batch of its technical facilities operations and maintenance training by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
The training was designed for members of staff of government agencies and private organisations by the chamber as part of the measures to further enhance skills development in Nigeria.
The President of ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, while speaking during the close of the training on Friday in Abuja, said that the beneficiaries would contribute their quota to the growth of the economy.
He was represented by Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, the 2nd Deputy President of ACCI, Abubakar, said that the one-year training was in collaboration with SKYE, GIZ, SEQUA and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
According to him, the chamber currently operates four centres which includes the Abuja Trade Centre (ATC) Business Entrepreneurial Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Policy Advocacy Centre (PAC) and Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC).
The BEST Centre being the training and capacity development arm of the chamber, has in the past few years supported youth empowerment through various vocational skills training programmes, Abubakar said.
Furthermore, he said that the centre has trained over 2000 persons including women and youths in various skills and capacity development programmes.
The Director of ACCI Best Centre, Dr Tinuke Temitope, also speaking said that the training was to further boost employability skills in the country.
The Director said that the training combined classroom-based learning with practical workshop and industry experience.
The blend of theory and practice is geared toward giving trainees a head start into employment since they acquire not only the required technical knowledge, but also gain hands-on experience by the time training has been completed.
We believe by following this approach, the employability of young Nigerians will improve significantly, she said.
According to her, the process of implementing the training started in May 2020 when the GIZ, SEQUA project partnered with ACCI to review the national occupational standards and occupational profiles of six trades.
They include office administration, industrial mechanics, industrial electronics, electrical and solar installation and technical facilities operations and maintenance.
Inputs from the private sector and all relevant stakeholders were extensively captured during the review process, she said.
The Director-General of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari, in his goodwill message, said the Fund would continue to collaborate with ACCI toward empowering the youth through vocational skills acquisition.
The Director-General of ITF, was represented by Omotowa Tunji, Assistant Director of Training in ITF.
Tunji urged the participants to leverage on the skills acquired during the training and contribute their quota to the growth of the nation’s economy.
Mr Ibrahim Udi on behalf of the 11 graduates, while sharing their experiences, said that the training exposed them to more knowledge about facility maintenance.
I thought I knew some things but in the course of the training I knew better, Udi said.
He lauded the organisers for the opportunity and urged government agencies and the private sector to release their employees for such training.