German governmentt makes case for vocational training

The German Government has charged Nigeria to strengthen efforts towards economic resuscitation through vocational skills development, especially among youths. The Head, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, Nigeria, Dr. Marc Lucassen, who made the charge urged government to learn from Germany’s experience in economic management.

He noted that the country which does not have crude oil, and not particularly rich in agricultural resources has been able to boost its gross domestic product (GDP), and reduced unemployment to the lowest levels through Dual Vocational Training (DVT).

For the Government to achieve speed in integrating DVT, Lucassen called for public-private sectors collaboration, stressing that DVT is better driven with public-private partnership initiative.

Lucassen spoke alongside other experts during the graduation ceremony of the first batch of apprentices in the Office Administration Profession in Ogun State, under the ongoing German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria (G-DVTPW-N).

According to the G-DVTPW-N programme Coordinator, Kehinde Stephen Awoyele, the course is an initiative of Germany, geared towards increasing the employability of Nigerian youths, and reducing poverty in the country.

He added that compared with other training systems on international scale, the dual system most successfully integrates young people into the employment market.” Speaking on the relevance of the DVT partnership to the ongoing Economic Recovery Plan and Growth of the Federal Government, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, noted that vocational training builds skills development, which are necessary for efficiency and productivity in a country, thereby raising the bar of employment and entrepreneurship.

Amosun who was represented by Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce, Otunba Bimbo Asiru, argued that if well harnessed with all the necessary collaboration from the private sector, the DVT would effectively check the rise of unemployment and contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Nigeria.

The Deputy Chairman, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief Alaba Lawson, described the DVT as a missing link in economic development in Nigeria.

Stressing the importance of training, she also called for the revival of technical colleges, especially in the state, as a way of ensuring that youths are gainfully employed through entrepreneurship as a way of discouraging unnecessary craving for “white collar jobs” among them.

Similarly, the President, Ogun Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), Chief Adesola Adebutu, reiterated that “vocational and technical education training is vital for sustainable economic development, because it combines theory and practice, hence the need for all to embrace it.”

Commenting on the effect of the programme, she said: “The German Dual Vocational Training programme has provided opportunity for unemployed youth to learn adequate vocational skills in order to become engaged.”

The G-DVTPW-N programme is financed by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and conducted by sequagGmbH, which is steered by the CCI Giessen-Friedberg as the German project partner.