Abia E4E programme to address dearth of skilled manpower

Endi Ezengwa

It has been observed that leading construction companies in Nigeria engage skilled workers from outside the country, rather than employ Nigerians. This is because of shortage of competent construction workers and artisans in the country.

Experts have observed that this practice is very detrimental to this country and present administration’s commitment towards boosting employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

To quickly address the shortage of skilled manpower in Abia State, the State Government established the Education for Employment scheme (E4E), which is expected to train Abia youths in various technical and
vocational skills.

The skills are expected to enable the youths to be self- employed or take up jobs in industries and help grow the economy.

The Technical Vocational Educational Training, which has started in all the 17 Local Government Areas of State, according to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, is an employment generating programme that would only succeed when the private sector keys into it.

Abia State in general and Aba in particular is an industrial and technical hub, hence the various factories need manpower, while the various creative processes require skills and finesse to maximise available opportunities.

Consequently, the Government is partnering industries in the State, especially those in Aba, its commercial hub, to ensure the success of the programme.

The programme, which officially started Wednesday, last week, at the Abia E-library complex with information and communication technology (ICT) training, is expected to train the participants in various skills.

While on training, Government will provide monthly stipends to the trainees and after training assist them to find jobs, for those wishing to go into paid employment and offer start-up materials for those wishing to stand on their own.

Speaking at the event, which is currently focused on acquisition of ICT skills, the internationally renowned trainer, Endi Ezengwa, coordinator of the programme, encouraged the participants to take the programme
seriously and use it to launch themselves into the next phase of their lives.

He assured that those, who do well, would receive special awards and internationally recognised certificates.

 Ezengwa insisted that the programme was for all Abians regardless of political leaning and would focus on hands- on-skill training in various areas, as indicated by the participants.

The training is expected to last for four months for each stream and it is concurrently taking place at 13 locations across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

The E4E coordinator revealed that the coordinating office of the programme received about 45,000 completed application forms from the 17 Local Government Areas of the State, which were processed, to have a clear view of the interest of the applicants.

“The Governor says he wants to create about 100,000 jobs in four years, so it is not one of those programmes you rush in order to get votes, it is a programme that we will painstakingly do, to make a lasting impact on our
system,” he said.

Governor Ikpeazu has explained that his administration is interested in partnering the industrial sector in the State, especially those in Aba, to create jobs for the unemployed in the State.

Consequently, the Education for Employment (E4E) programme, instituted by his administration is to produce skilled manpower for industries as well as ensure that youths of Abia State are gainfully employed.

He observes that industrialists in Aba and Abia State as a whole are integral to the success of the education for employment scheme, as the scheme is designed to train youths who have been imbued with various skills and technical abilities that are required by industries.

In his words, “Today we are interfacing with the business community in Abia State to get you on board in the education for employment programme and solicit your full participation in the success of the programme.

“We are banking on a synergy between the training programme and the skill sets required by the industries for the success of the programme, therefore weencourage industrialists in Abia State to cooperate with
the consultants of the E4E programme.

The Governor urged the organized private sector in Abia State to continue to partner with this administration, to address the developmental challenges faced by the State.

According to Ikpeazu, the Abia State Government is ready to work with the industrial sector in the State in a symbiotic relationship, to have regular interactions where you can tell us what Government can do to make your
businesses flourish.

“This is a caring and business friendly administration. We will support you to ensure that the economy of the State is buoyant.

He explained that the State Government had already begun the revitalization of technical and vocational education in the State, even before President Mohammadu Buhari’s order at the federal level.

“Most of you who follow national events, would have read in the newspapers that our president has ordered the revitalization of technical and vocational education in our schools, nationwide, however, the Abia State Government had already begun the programme, even before it became a national issue. We saw the light before others did.

“Every month our allocation from the federal revenue keeps dwindling, not only that of Abia State, but also the entire 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Government.

“Our people need jobs and we have to keep our State afloat and that is why we are very serious about this programme, “he affirmed.