Over 2,000 youths in Edo State are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme under the Team Maximization (T-Max) project.
Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Education Intervention, Fela Bank-Olemoh disclosed this after a closed-door meeting with the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, in Benin City.
Bank-Olemoh noted that the “project is running across seven pilot states across the country. The States are Lagos, Enugu, Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Gombe and now kicking off in Edo State.
“The plan is to train 15,000 Nigerians across the country with vocational skills that will improve the lives of Nigerians on a daily basis. Vocations like carpentry, coding, tilling, mechanical, baking and pastry, make up and fashioned design and more. We are doing this across the country and we are going to be training 2,000 people in Edo State and it will be value added.
“We have gotten good feedback from the other six states and it is heartwarming to note that Nigerians are taking it seriously. We are sure to make it a success here in Edo State just like it has been successful in other six States.
“The key criteria is that you must be a Nigerian youth resident in Edo State and a youth that wants to learn and improve himself/herself as you don't need to know anyone to be selected.”
He added, “This programme is focused on empowering the local economy. The training is between one to two months as the programme will start this month, January and end in March.
“The best students of the programme will get starter packs. Also, transportation stipends will be given to ensure students take the programme seriously. Every student that goes through this programme gets certification.”
On her part, Osa-Oviawe noted, "I want to thank the President for extending the training to Edo State as the Federal Government’s intervention aligns very much with the State’s focus on TVET and training for young people. The government is very interested in upskilling the next generation of Edo youths, preparing them for the world of work as they are positioned to become future entrepreneurs.
“I encourage Edo youths to take advantage of this opportunity provided for 2,000 persons as there are wide varieties of training.”