By Rasaq Adebayo
As part of strategic moves to bridge the skill gap in the Housing sector, Lagos State is set to commence a comprehensive training project targeted at artisans and craftsmen in the Built sector.
The skill acquisition programme which is tagged ‘MasterCraft Training Programme’ is to enable residents, mainly youths in the construction trades, to update their skills and acquire other competencies that will make them more employable and hence improve their economic well-being.
Speaking in his office at Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Kamar Olowoshago said the State Government in its desire to create more employment through the Housing sector has finalised arrangements to train craftspersons over a period of time with the first batch targeted at 200 artisans.
The training programme, according to Olowoshago, is to ensure that artisans in the State are at par with others in the region.
He pointed out that presently developers prefer to engage artisans from neighboring countries who are perceived to be more skilled and precise than the ones in the State.
He noted that non employability of the artisans has been a cause of drain in the gains of housing development efforts as Lagos State Government is focusing on massive housing development as an indirect way of improving the economy both on micro and macro levels.
According to him, the first leg of the programme will be for six weeks and will be centred on critical construction trades such as Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works; Painting and Decorating; Plumbing and Pipe-Fitting; Carpentry and Furniture Making and Masonry (Block laying and Concreting).
He said the participants will be drawn from across the State while training centres will be at the Technical Colleges at Ikotun in Alimosho.
He further revealed that the programme is quite crucial to the State ‘s policy of building decent homes for citizens.
“In making Lagos a 21st century economy, a skilled labour force is germane to speedy completion of safer homes for the people.”
Olowoshago added that the training would help address the ugly challenge of building collapse and other incidents of emergencies at construction sites, saying that with the training, the State would have less inexperienced artisans who are believed to be responsible for building collapse and in- construction accidents.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that the programme will train, retrain and certify beneficiaries with 21st century skills required for the much needed technological development.
He said: “In addition to the acquired training, each certified master craftsman with over 70% attendance will receive certification from Nigeria Institute of Builders, empowerment with modern tools of their trade, work gears and stipends from the State government.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Razak Jaiyeola, the training consultant stressed the need for the retraining of artisans in construction trades saying “this training will reduce capital flight as the fund spent by developers in engaging foreign artisans will now be utilized in employing the qualified artisans.”
He revealed that the registration forms which can be obtained from the State ‘s Ministry of Housing is free and advised the participants to prepare for comprehensive practical and theory sessions during their training.
He further said the trainees will be fully insured during the training period in the unlikely incident of hazards or dangers during the practical sessions.
Jaiyeola also pointed out that there will be classes on connected areas such as Customer Relations, Information and Communication Technology and Health and Safety during the programme.
