Eniola Grace
Awka: The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has inaugurated the Skills Empowerment and Development Centre (SEDC) of Anambra Polytechnic.
Dr Ngozi Okelekwe, Director of the Southeast Zone of NBTE, who inaugurated the Centre in Mgbakwu, near Awka, described it as one of the best among its peers.
The Centre has facilities for eight skill sets, including Cosmetology, Welding/Fabrication, Bakery/Confectionery, Media/Photography, ICT/Solar Installation, Block Moulding/Bricklaying, Tailoring/Textile, and Greenhouse Technology.
Okelekwe congratulated the institution for being one of the beneficiaries of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme of the NBTE.
She said trainees would receive skill-based certificates known as National Skill Qualification after undergoing stringent quality assessment procedures.
She said that the Federal Government had identified 25 skill gaps which were role-specific under TVET and called on Nigerian youths to key into the programme.
Dr Njideka Rita Chiekezie, Rector of the Polytechnic, said the opening of SEDC was another addition to the institution’s growing profile.
Chiekezie said that the objective was to produce graduates with one degree and two skills in line with the 1Youth 2Skills initiative of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
She said the certificate would be NBTE-certified and applicable nationwide, while welcoming the partnership offer from the Anambra government.
“We are happy that the Commissioner for Youth Empowerment has said that they are ready to partner with us in the area of startup pack,” he said.
In his speech, Mr Patrick Aghamba, Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, applauded the institution for expanding its scope of vocational training and encouraged the management to align with his Ministry to enjoy the accruing benefits.
Aghamba stated that the 1Youth 2 Skills empowerment programme of the Anambra Government had been endorsed by the Federal Government and proposed for nationwide implementation.
He said the programme not only armed youths with skills but also provided them with startup packs to enable them to contribute to society and create wealth.
“We are impressed with what you are doing, and we are open to partnership with you, so I encourage you to come to the Ministry and see what we are doing in our 1Youth 2Skills programme and align with it.
“If we work with you, your students can benefit from what our trainees benefit; they will stand a chance to get start-up packs,” he said.
