Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade Investment in collaboration with the Technical and Vocational Education Board is working towards providing a large pool of qualified skilled workers to aid industrial growth.
Commissioner in the Ministry, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe in a meeting at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, with the Special Adviser on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, said the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration would not relent in its effort at addressing shortage of skilled manpower and ensure that the youths were well equipped to meet demands for skilled labour by some industries in the State to prevent sourcing from foreign countries.
Longe stated that the government was streamlining the delivery of technical and vocational education, to allow for employability of the youths and residents, noting that the quality of training would be entrepreneurship-focused to help those trained start and grow their businesses, adding that funding opportunities were available through the Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) and other lending opportunities in the State.
“With the streamlining of technical and vocational education in Ogun State, we should be expecting an improved large pool of qualified workers, especially, blue-collar workers that would support and aid the growth of our industries. So industries no longer need to go outside of the shores of the State or the country to get quality manpower”, Longe said.
In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Remi Ogunmefun called for the adoption of the German Dual Vocational Training system to meet the industrial needs of the State.
In his address, Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Odemuyiwa said his agency was interested in partnering with the Ministry, to ensure that the demands for skilled labour in industries across the State were met, assuring that there would be a comprehensive register of technical artisans trained and certified by the State.
Odemuyiwa added that the streamlining process would involve the Education Ministry to train and certify trainees, noting that there was currently a local content law before the State House of Assembly which would further aid the current efforts at improving technical and vocational education in the State.