Kwara’s IVTEC’ll end import of skilled artisans from neighbouring countries—VP
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase Ipo, Kwara State, saying the institution will soon churn out skilled professionals that will end the unprecedented surge of related artisans trooping into the country.
Investigations by Business Hilights showed that over 90 per cent of tillers and modern roofing technology experts currently working in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt migrate from Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana.
Osinbajo commended the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for his achievements, adding that Kwara remained one of the leading states in the federation in the provision of employment, creation of enabling environment for businesses and provision of necessary platforms for the development of youths.
Drawing inspiration from IVTEC, he charged other states governments to set up similar institutions to cater for aggressive talents among Nigerian youths and the needs of the country.
He condemned importation of skilled artisans from neighbouring West African countries into Nigeria, adding that Nigeria had a high number of talented youths with aggressive minds to succeed in trade, commerce and entrepreneurship.
He also inaugurated a one-stop-shop for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and GEEP in Ilorin, saying time has come for every state to factor in how to develop the skills of their youths as part of new efforts to drive economic diversification in Nigeria.
Continuing, he revealed that the Federal Government through its social investment scheme, N-Power, has employed over 200,000 people and plans to hire another 300,000 graduates, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said.
According to him, government would use part of the N500bn social investment scheme to provide credit to at least one million entrepreneurs, market women and artisans under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.
Earlier in his welcome address, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, said his administration had invested heavily in the provision of infrastructure and enabling environment for businesses to thrive as well as the development of the youths.
He noted that the vision to establish IVTEC was to equip youths with skills for self-reliance; to tackle unemployment, and ensure easy access to vocational training of international standards.
The Vice president also inaugurated the HMA Medical Limited in Ilorin, a $15m syringe and needle production plant with an installed capacity for 200 million syringes and 350 needles annually. The factory is the second in the country after the newly commissioned syringe plant in Cross Rivers State.
