Kwara establishes vocational college to curb youth unemployment

The Kwara State government has established the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase Ipo, to tackle youth unemployment and offer opportunity for higher vocational qualification for the people. IVTEC, according to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, will train youth in critical skills identified in partnership with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and prepare […]

The Kwara State government has established the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase Ipo, to tackle youth unemployment and offer opportunity for higher vocational qualification for the people.

IVTEC, according to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, will train youth in critical skills identified in partnership with the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and prepare students for the City and Guilds of London certification which will make the graduates employable locally and internationally. 

Ahmed stated this at a meeting with the Vice Chancellor of University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, during a visit to the United Kingdom, at which he sought for partnership between the college and the university based on its eminence in providing vocational and skills training.

He maintained that if the proper structures for the training the youths in market-relevant vocational skills are put in place, Nigeria will be better placed to address the skills shortage in the country.   

Governor Ahmed and Professor Layer thereafter signed a letter of intent for partnership between the university and the college.

The curriculum of the centre is said to have been developed with input from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA).

Meanwhile, the Kwara State House of Assembly in order to ensure quick takeoff of the IVTEC, has passed the bill establishing it into law. 

The passage of the bill into law was followed by the commissioning of the college by the Vice President, Professor, Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo, at the commissioning, advocated for establishment of the same vocational training centre in every state of the federation to compliment technical schools and provide vocational training for the teeming youth.

However, a five-year funding mechanism for the college is said to have generated heated debate among the lawmakers as some were of the view that the period was grossly inadequate for the state government to make it self-financing.

The college, which began operation on March 1, 2018, saw the state government announcing payment of 70 per cent of fees as scholarships for students from the state that covers tuition, training and tools.  

Governor Ahmed made the announcement during a meeting with the college’s board of trustees led by its chairman, Prof. Abiodun Adimula.

The governor also approved a full scholarship for a three-month special training programme for 195 students under the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) project.

He said the beneficiaries would be selected from the World Bank’s existing database and selection model, and that 13 candidates will undergo any of the available 15 special certificate programmes which will cost N17,146,545.

Ahmed said the decision to grant scholarships to students was informed by the need to expand access to education.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Adimula said the college would assist in solving the dearth of professional artisans in the country.

He said IVTEC would be able to produce quality workmanship in Nigeria to mitigate the problems experienced in the quality of artisanship as manifested in our roads, buildings and other sectors.

Also speaking, IVTEC acting Rector, Dr. Ade Somide, said the institution had embarked on training of trainers with respect to teaching, adding that the instructors were fully ready to commence training of students. He, however, said the college still required more support staff.

Somide also stated that the college had expanded its enrolment base to 630 students per session, which he said, will bring down the cost of training.

The acting rector disclosed that 125 students were admitted and 123 have commenced training and that a private firm is set to train about 25 students in Solar Technology at IVTEC.  

Somide further explained that the training which is a three-month Special Certificate Programme cuts across 14 different programmes in seven departments.

He listed the departments to include Building Construction Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC), Welding and Fabrication Technology, Automotive Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Hotel and Tourism Management.  

In the end, students would be awarded IVTEC Special Certificates in their respective fields of study and can re-enroll for advanced studies or a two-year National Innovation Diploma Programme.