“… as Speaker hails initiative amidst job scarcity, urges youths to take advantage of the state vocational institute to be self reliant…”
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Wives Association Women Skills Empowerment Programme (NASHAWA-WOSEP) in Collaboration with Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, has commenced the training of 150 women and youths on different productive skills.
Similarly, the Office of the Head of Civil Service , Nasarawa State in Collaboration with the Institute, is also training 140 civil servants about to retire in different vocational skills.
The occasion was declared open by the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau at the institute today in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The programme according to organizers is to enable the participants to be self reliant and contribute positively to the development of the society.
Mrs Kaka Theresa Danladi Jatau, Wife of the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly stated this during the opening ceremony of the 150 participants sponsored in collaboration with the institute in Lafia and 140 participants for pre-retirement vocational skills training today in Lafia.
Mrs Jatau, who was represented by the wife of the Majority Leader, Hajiya Ramatu Sulaiman said that the training was organized in order to enable the participants acquire skills to be self independent.
Mrs Jatau appreciated Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his efforts in training youths and other people of the state in different skills acquisition programmes particularly his effort in establishing the Centre which she said is impacting positively on the lives of the people of the state.
” You will be trained on ICT, tailoring and fashion design, leather works, carpentry and Joinery, cosmetology, baking, pastries and confectionaries among others,” she said.
She also commended the 7th assembly under her husband’s leadership for the support giving to the association to succeed.
Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, while declaring the occasion open commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his passion in training the people of the state in different productivity and viable skills.
Jatau, also commended the Executive Director of the institute, Dr Daniel Ewuga Asele for being up and doing in taking youths off the streets through training.
” I want to appreciate NASHAWA for organizing this training in collaboration with this institute.
” I am also happy with the Head of Service for organizing this training for civil servants that are about to retire.
” I want to appeal to the participants to be attentive, acquire skills and knowledge to help your selves, your families and for the overall development of the state,” he said
He also urged the participants to exhibit good behaviours and be good ambassadors of their various communities while the training last.
The Speaker called on the participants and other people of the state to continue to pray and support Gov. Abdullahi Sule to succeed.
” Engr. A A Sule is a God gift to the people of the state. He has passion for the development of the state,” the speaker said.
He assured of the 7th Assembly’s readiness to continue to enact laws and pass resolutions that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.
On his part, Dr Daniel Ewuga Asele, the Executive Director, Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia commended wives of the state legislators for supporting the efforts of their hard working husbands via training the women and youths.
He also said that the pre-retirment vocational skills training for civil servants about to retire was aimed at providing employable and entrepreneurship skills to them.
” The fact remains that no nation can make progress economically and socially without skilled women considering that vocational skills play a vital role in women empowerment, gender equality and poverty reduction.
” So, acquisition of relevant skills by womenfolk constitutes the platform in which the drive for socio-economic development can be established in Nigeria,” he added.
The executive director disclosed that the institute has over 40 carefully articulated relevant trade areas with diversified skills training programmes.
Asele appreciated the 7th Assembly under Rt. Hon. Jatau leadership for supporting the institute to succeed .
On her part, Barr. Abigail Waya, Head of Service, Nasarawa State said that the pre- retirement skills training for civil servants was to enable them acquire skills that will help them after retirement.
” You will acquire skills such as ICT, tailoring and fashion design, livestock production, leather works, knitting, Aluminium and Fabrication, carpentry and Joinery, Domestic electrical installation, Cosmetology and Auto mechanic,” she said.
She urged the participants to use the skills to better their lots after retirement from service for the overall development of the state
The Head of Service restated Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s administration commitment to continue to train civil servants and other people of the state in different skills, adding that white collar jobs are not longer available.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Barr. William Akika of the Ministry of Justice, appreciated Gov Sule for approving the workshop.
He assured of their readiness to use the skills acquire for the betterment of their families and the state at large.
He appealed for timely payment of their gratuity after the training to enable them put into use knowledge acquired.