FG to Empower 100 Youths in Leather Craftsmanship
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to empower 100 young Nigerians through comprehensive technical and vocational education.
The empowerment would focus on the art of shoemaking and leather craftsmanship.
The initiative, led by Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Technical Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Mrs Abiola Arogundade, was done alongside Chief Executive Officer, Yikodeen, Mr Yinka Atunde.
The Senior Special Assistant made this known via a statement on Friday in Lagos.
She said the transformative shoemaking and leather crafting training programme primary objective was to equip aspiring artisans with essential skills.
Arogundade said the Federal Government initiative covered everything from footwear design and prototyping to pattern grading, upper preparation, footwear production, and materials knowledge.
According to her, this initiative exemplifies the Federal Government’s commitment to skill development and the empowerment of Nigerian youth.
She stated that the programme scheduled as a month-long intensive training, adopts a holistic approach, incorporating lectures, practical exercises, weekly assignments, and bi-weekly assessments.
Each class, she explained, would accommodate 33 participants, with benefits from the expertise of a team of 10 seasoned trainers with a minimum of a decade’s experience in leatherwork.
“The chosen training venue, Yikodeen Factory in Isolo, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including specialised footwear machines, shoe lasts, and spacious workspaces.
“The learning experience will be enriched by guest speakers and external experts, broadening the scope of knowledge imparted.
“Registration, facilitated through the Community Development Association (CDA) and the Nigerian Army Ordinance, comes with no participation fees.
“Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded a certificate of participation, symbolising their dedication and proficiency in leather craftsmanship.
“This Federal Government-backed programme which will start on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, signifies a collaborative effort with Lodoni Company Ltd., the Nigerian Army, and Stitches and Prints Ltd. as sponsors and partners,” she said.
Arogundade also committed to fully employing 50 participants in full-time capacity, addressing industry integration for skilled hands.
She said the success of the initiative would be measured through participant feedback, completion rates, post-training progress tracking, and employment/entrepreneurial outcomes. NBS And The Task of Delivering Reliable National Data
