Academy equips 1,016 technical graduates with soft skills

No fewer than 1,016 technical graduates across technical colleges and tertiary institutions in Lagos State have been empowered with in-demand soft skills by One Precious Life (OPL) Academy, under its Technician Empowerment Program (TEP).

The empowerment program was held in partnership with the Livelihood Impact Fund, the Ministry of Tertiary Education (MTE), and the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

The beneficiaries include graduates and final year students from Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) as well as Government Technical Colleges in Agidingbi, Epe, Ikorodu, Ikotun and Adosoba, who already have specialized training in Electrical Installation, Plumbing & Pipe fitting, Painting & Decoration, Masonry, RAC/HVAC, Welding & Fabrication, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ELECT-ELECT), Civil Engineering, Building tech, and Estate mgt.

At the graduation ceremony held in Yaba, Lagos on Friday, the graduands were issued certificates after completing intensive training on effective communication, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, critical thinking & problem-solving skills, and how to meet customer’s expectations among others.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of OPL Academy, Oare Ehiemua, confirmed that the graduands have developed capacity to work as professional technicians in their various fields, saying they were not only trained on technical skills but soft skills which have prepared them for any opportunities in the future.

She emphasized the need for artisans to prioritize soft skills, saying it is what makes them stand out with clients.

She said: “It is one thing to get a job because of your technical competencies and it is another thing to be able to retain a client. And to retain a client, you need very good soft skills.”

“With OPL academy, over the years, we have been able to secure more than 500 jobs for technicians and N70million in revenue for the workers and local suppliers.

“Now that they have graduated from OPL Academy, they have the opportunity to join LaborHack, a sister company and the next phase of our intervention, where they can start to access job opportunities as well as other lifestyle benefits like loans for financing, healthcare, etc.”

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In her address, the Programs lead at the academy, Evelyn Idiji, said that the graduates have acquired the soft skills needed for them to thrive in today’s world, both locally and internationally.

She noted that since the program kicked off in 2019, they have been able to train 4,000 technicians across different states in Nigeria, adding that the current 2024 graduates consist of a total of 803 from the government technical colleges and a total of 213 from the tertiary institutions.

A graduate of Government Technical College in Ikotun, Okpako Daniella, who is a beneficiary of the training, lauded the initiative and the training they received, saying it has shaped their lives on how to become a better professional technician.

She said: “As a technician, there are some problems that may arise that you can’t search online for solution, but through this training, we have been tutored on how to deal with any kind of challenges and also become a professional in our various fields.”

One thing that stands this program out, she said, was the reassessment sessions included in the training to monitor improvements as well as ensure that the trainees really understand what is being taught and not just to get the certificates.

Another beneficiary, Amami Precious who is a graduate of LASUSTECH, described the training as a life-changing opportunity that offers requisite skills for technicians and engineers to become better at what they do.

He said: “I found something that I never expected which is beyond just my profession at the academy. I must confess that this has impacted my personal life with full boldness.”

Head, Lagos Region for the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Tomide Akinnawo, who represented the Registrar of COREN in Abuja, Adisa Bello, encouraged the graduands to continuously develop their skills and knowledge, noting that the construction field is one that thrives on knowledge and skills.