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By Raymond Osho
The German Development Cooperation, (GIZ) GmbH is not resting on it’s oar to increase awareness and interest in technical skills and job opportunity in the Construction and Agriculture sectors with a view to address the challenges of youth unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.
To this end, the German Cooperation, on the platform of its skills development for youth employment in Nigeria (SKYE) programme, on Thursday July 4, 2019 organised a workshop on “Promoting Girls and Women in Skills Acquisition” with focus on trades in Construction and Agriculture.
The well attended workshop, held at Green Legacy Resort, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital witnessed the participation of stakeholders in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sectors, academia and civil society.
Over 100 adolescent girls and women who graced the occasion were equipped with information on skill development in Construction and Agriculture sectors to enable them tackle the challenges of youth unemployment and poverty in the State.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Dipeolu Adewale, Dean, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) suggested the establishment of small ventures as an antidote for recession in the country.
He challenged the federal government to provide an enabling atmosphere for small scale business to thrive, insisting that women and girls must be the focus.
His words: “I wish government will listen to us. The way to bring Nigerian out of recession is to allow the establishment of small ventures. The more small ventures we have, the more outputted we will produce and the more recession will disappear”.
The erudite professor told the audience: “If you have a skill, you will get employed easily, if you have a skill you cannot be sacked at your establishment”.
Dipeolu who focused his talk, mostly on women and girls said for the country’s economy to experience growth, gender specific policies and services tailored to women in the value chain must be allowed.
In his own speech, Coordinator Hans-Ludwig Bruns, GIZ Cluster stressed that there is a gender skills gap in the sectors of Construction and Agriculture, which are key sectors of the SKYE programme.
His words: “Youths, especially adolescent girls and women should take advantage of the labour markets needs in the sectors of Construction and Agriculture. There are available trainings to enhance these technical skills that will boost employment and reduce poverty in Ogun state and across Nigeria.
“The SKYE programme is at the forefront to bridge the gender skills gap; we are currently offering several TVET trainings through our implementing partners.”
The event also included presentations and interactive dialogue with experts, including Mrs. Olaitan Oduwwaye, World Bank representative in Ogun state, Mrs. Omotunde Rasheed-Yusuf, former Senior Special Assistant to the governor of Ogun state, and Dr. Lasode Abolanle, Senior Lecturer, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta among a host of others.
