The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Olabimpe Aderiye, has urged Training Service Providers (TSPs) participating in the World Bank-assisted Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project to propose innovative and practical training solutions to ensure the program’s success.
Speaking during a meeting with TSPs in Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Aderiye highlighted the state government’s plan to utilize the Nigerian Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Fund (NYESAF) component of the IDEAS Project to upskill and certify 6,000 young artisans through a short-duration training program.
She emphasized that achieving this target would have a significant multiplier effect on the economy of the Southwest, creating a pool of highly qualified artisans capable of delivering top-notch services. Dr. Aderiye also stressed Ekiti State’s pivotal role as the coordinating hub for NYESAF in the Southwest zone and urged stakeholders to fully leverage the program to enhance artisans’ service delivery.
Training Focus and Objectives
The Ekiti State Coordinator for the IDEAS Project, Mrs. Adenike Akinyemi, provided further insights into the program, noting that the NYESAF initiative aims to finance short-term training in trades with high employment potential, specifically targeting unemployed youth aged 15-35 years.
According to Mrs. Akinyemi, the first round of the program will train 6,000 youths nationwide, with 1,000 participants per zone. She stated that both public and private TSPs with the requisite qualifications and experience can access the skills fund.
Mrs. Akinyemi emphasized the project’s alignment with the government’s long-term education reform agenda, focusing on addressing challenges in technical education and fostering youth employment. The initiative seeks to produce professionals and technicians with mid-level vocational qualifications, alongside skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Training Sectors
The program will focus on six sectors critical to youth employment in the Southwest zone:
- Agriculture
- Hospitality, Leisure, and Tourism
- Building Construction
- Creative Industry
- Automobile Technical Skills
- Health, Fitness, and Digital Skills
Participating Institutions
Institutions and establishments involved in the training include:
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan
Crown Polytechnic, Odo
EKICCIMA
First-Class Skills Acquisition Entrepreneurship & Vocational Academy
National Automotive Design and Development Council
This initiative underlines Ekiti State’s commitment to addressing unemployment and building a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth in the region.