From Seye Ojo, Ibadan
No fewer than 100 youths, yesterday, received state-of-the-art plumbing equipment, tools and diagnostic kits worth millions of naira in Ibadan, Oyo State in the ongoing nationwide empowerment and job creation for youths by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The beneficiaries were handed the items in the empowerment programme aimed at giving new skills and modernising activities of artisans in the plumbing vocation.
A similar exercise kicked off in Kebbi State in August where youths from the area were giving training, modern equipment and tools in modern farming.
Executive Vice Chairman/CE NASENI, Mohammed Haruna while flagging off the training in Ibadan said NASENI was carrying out President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.
“Artisans from neighbouring African countries today are taking over the few occupational jobs available in the built environment and in construction industry.
“The president has empowered NASENI to lead the nation to a manufacturing economy and undoubtedly this type of skill development is key pre-requisite, that is – competent workforce.
“It is the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari that NASENI must work hard to build critical mass of Nigeria to reverse the trend and provide competitive know-how to Nigerians to meet local demand and export labour abroad.
“The skill development in many specialized areas of need is ongoing and the trainees are expected to train others.
“The 100 participants in Oyo State were carefully selected through due diligence are all receiving their modern tools as start-ups.
“They have automatic membership of a platform of NASENI for continuous knowledge and experience sharing in the dynamic area of their chosen occupation.”
He said the re-tooling scheming for youths has been yielding dividends for the country.
“I know of two foreign embassies associated with NASENI that used to bring technicians from their home countries to repair their water closets sanitary and sewage system due to poor workmanship and incompetence of Nigerian artisans in modern and automated systems.
“They no longer require expatriates with NASENI’s intervention. It is painful that several building leakages are due to poor plumbing work resulting in unsightly walls and weak structure.
Haruna said the training on modern methods of plumbing and its application was to ensure that the needed capacity building in areas that appear lacking in a particular state of the federation will be attended to.
He said acquiring practical technical skills in a fast changing world order was designed to guarantee gainful employment and income for sustainable livelihoods.