Ekiti State Launches Artisan Training Programme to Boost Job Creation and Youth Development.

Ekiti State Launches Artisan Training Programme to Boost Job Creation and Youth Development.

By Olamide Akinwumi.

In a bid to advance job creation and youth development, the Ekiti State Government has announced a new artisan training programme set to kick off on August 12, 2024. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment, and Cooperatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Board of Technical and Vocational Education, will provide comprehensive training to Master Craft persons across the state.

The inaugural phase of the programme will see 250 participants trained over a period of six weeks at the Government Technical Colleges (GTC) in Ado-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti. The training is designed to address key challenges faced by artisans, including difficulties in obtaining internationally recognised trade certification and accessing digital employment platforms.

Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment, and Cooperatives, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola, emphasized that the programme aims to equip artisans with essential skills such as value orientation, work ethics, and modern technology. By integrating artisans into digital hiring platforms and providing them with trade certification, the initiative marks a significant step towards modernising the state’s workforce.

Mrs. Adeola urged artisans to seize this opportunity to enhance their skills and leverage the new opportunities presented by the programme. This effort is part of the state government’s broader strategy to create job opportunities and foster development for both skilled and unskilled youth in Ekiti.