Magnus Eze, Enugu
Enugu State Government is to establish equipment trust fund for young people with technical and vocational skills, Chairman of the state Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB), Obi Kama, has said.
Kama, who spoke in Enugu, yesterday, said the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is poised to produce students who, upon leaving school, would be self-employed and, also, employers of labour, having been sufficiently equipped with necessary skills to drive technology, innovations and inventions for wealth creation and employment generation.
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Decrying alleged rot they met at inception, he noted that the administration had, in the past three years, embarked on massive renovation, rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of workshops, classrooms as well as laboratories and halls in schools and technical colleges.
“We are about setting up equipment trust fund to assist skilled people in the state. With this, we would be able to provide students with kits; the best three graduating students will be given starter packs, to enable them set up trades of their choices; depending on their areas of specialisation. That would help them stand on their feet,” he said.
The chairman also said 15 technical students, with the approval of the governor, were currently on training at the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Academy, while, through collaboration with a German Agency-GIZ, many science, technical, vocational, and trades teachers in the state had been equipped with the needed capacity to take students on entrepreneurial education.
Principal of Government Technical College, Enugu, Kenneth Ogili used the occasion to present the overall winner of 2018 NNPC/Chevron National Arts Competition won by a student of the school, Chijioke Nnadi, to the Board chairman.