The Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, said it had keyed into the Federal Government’s agenda to expand employment opportunities by developing youths to become employers of labour.
the Managing Director of the Consultancy Service unit of the college; Mr Sunday Enikanselu spoke in an interview in Lagos last week.
Enikanselu said that in line with the government agenda, the college had introduced professional training programmes in maritime courses.
He said that the need to develop programmes that would make an individual to become an employer of labour could not be overemphasised.
“It is unfortunate that many Nigerian youths are unengaged and thus roaming the streets,’’ Enikanselu said.
The managing director said the college chose the maritime industry because it was a developing sector with much gaps in terms of knowledge base.
According to him, the programme will develop the youths and build their skills extensively in many sectors of the economy, particularly in maritime, offshore and petro-gas industrial technology.
“We felt that going into the maritime skill acquisition programmes will assist our youth to get engaged fast, because the sector has lots of opportunities.
“It is also a way of assisting the federal government in its youth empowerment programme, which will boost the image of the college,’’ he said.
Enikanselu said such programmes would build the skills of an individual to fit into specific sectors of the industry, unlike the university that makes one a generalist.
He said the programme would begin in the first week in April, with 100 students admitted in the first tranche.
“We are considering admission for 100 students at a time, so that we do not overstretch the available facilities and also to deliver good training services.
“But it is possible that by June, another set will be admitted; but we will not admit more than 100 students at a time,’’ the managing director said.
He said that experienced resource persons had been assembled to begin the programme.
According to him, the programme is in collaboration with Ocean-gate Engineering and Geophysics Limited, a certified affiliate of Nigeria Maritime Council.
Enikanselu said the college was also collaborating with the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Chevron, Shell and Total to engage the participants and expose them to the reality in the industry after completion of their programme.
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