By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has called for more collaboration and interventions from private sector to complement government efforts in the achievement of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
The Mandate Secretary FCT Education Secretariat, Sani Dahir El-Katuzu, made during the award ceremony of the school sewing championship competition in Abuja.
He said the initiative which is being coordinated by Ladi Memorial Foundation, will help in creating jobs to significantly alleviate poverty in the society.
” The award Ceremony of the School sewing Championship competition which is the first of it’s kind in the territory will help to complement government efforts in the achievement of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) actualization of job creation to significantly alleviate poverty in our society.
“This programme was flagged off on the 19th January 2023, with the objective of strengthening skills development among children/youths in the FCT schools and learning centres, with the intention of catching them young to be skillful and responsible contributors to sustainable economic development so the age bracket qualifying participants for this very competitive event is 12-20 years, either in JSS, SSS skills centers or out of school.
“I commend the initiator of this programme, Mrs Roseline Osikoya who resiliently facilitated and mobilize Institutional support for pilot school sewing championship project. This programme will be sustained to encourage the youth to use their leisure time wisely to learn marketable trades and skills that will provide economic support and lifelong educational development and poverty alleviation.” He stated.
The Director, FCT Department of Mass Education, Mrs Hajarat Titilayo Alayande commended the facilitators and teachers for keeping the children in a boot champ for 10 days of massive training from sewing to marketing and branding, assuring that the Abuja Enterprise Agency shall be registering the children’s company names at subsidize rate.
On her part, Mrs. Roseline Ojochenemi Osikoya, the SSCC23 project, coordinator, who doubles as the Executive Director of Ladi Memorial Foundation, said that; “About 15 individuals benefited, you see that some schools that received equipments have more than one thousand students, and for the individuals and the three schools, there is rippling effect.
“The National Secondary Education Commission has promised to support the project in 2024, and the FCTA has promised to sustain and continue the project.” She assured.
The high point of the event was giving of awards to deserving facilitators and teachers, as well as sewing machines to students and schools.
End.
