About 1,000 artisans and craftsmen from the 17 local government areas of Yobe state have benefited from a capacity development and skills acquisition Programme organized by the state government in partnership with Family Homes Funds.
The training which is an effort to bridge the skills gap caused by ageing skilled artisans in Yobe and to further support the local capacity of the craftsmen across 17 local government areas is also an innovative way of providing jobs to support the artisans in the local construction industry.
The weeklong programme which took place across 10 training centres involved Hands on Training on modern interlocking production, laying and marketing. The participants were empowered with a modern skill set that will help them navigate through the fast-changing world of construction and artisanship.
This programme echoes the vision shared by both Family Homes Funds and Yobe state – the need to create jobs and improve quality in local production/services among artisans/craftsmen.
Some of the critical stakeholders involved in the training included experts from Housing and Property Development, and Science and Technical Schools in the state.
For sustainability purposes, arrangements have been made with major contractors in the state to establish linkages so that the newly trained artisans can be engaged in infrastructural development. Apart from capacity development, the beneficiaries would also receive support to expand their ventures.
Those who were getting the training for the first time would be registered with the association of artisans/craftsmen in the state, while those already in the field would use the training to continuously improve the quality of their work.
As the demand for skilled manpower continues to rise, this training offers great opportunities for both the artisans and those who need their great skills.
A graduation ceremony has been planned for the artisans and will be attended by the Governor of the state, His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni and a delegation from Family Homes Funds led by the MD, Femi Adewole.
