By DAYO ADESULU

The Commissioner for Education, Rivers State Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi has flagged-off the 15th Education Conference of the German skilled crafts sector in Berlin. The conference dealt with the export of vocational education and training, the strengths of the German dual training system and the recruitment of skilled employees.

In her opening speech, Lawrence-Nemi lauded the cooperation with German partners in building the Port Harcourt Technical and Vocational Centre, noting that the partnership with the German firm ZWH will create a future for Rivers people.

According to her, Port Harcourt is the centre of oil and gas business in West Africa and the need to develop an effective technical and vocational centre was necessary.

Recalling the genesis of the innovation, she said “our Governor visited Germany 2012 and was impressed with what he saw concerning the human capacity building in your country. He discovered that youth unemployment here is low because of the well-functioning German education system, especially in the area of vocational and technical education.

“Rivers State is the hub of oil and gas businesses in West Africa.  As the treasure base of the Nigerian nation, the city has witnessed over the years influx of multinationals and international oil companies.   Hence the development of a very effective technical and vocational institution in the state is very vital.

“Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi wants to create a future for the Rivers State people using the German style. We believe our marriage with ZWH will give us that.“

The Commissioner who pointed out that the technical/vocational centre will be functional by the first quarter, noted that agreements have been signed while the equipemnts will soon be installed in the centre while the train the trainers programme will soon commence.

Lawrence-Nemi maintained that the youths, will through the programme, acquire various skills once the centre commences full operation.

“The vision of the governor is to create an economy where every youth will be employable by different multinationals operating in the state.

“We also believe that with the ZWH and German craft that are being imparted to our youths would make these youths readymade materials for the industries and even self-employment.

“Thus the governor’s vision of an economic reform agenda with respect to employer generation of the teaming youths would have been achieved in the next few years.”