Speaking during a facility inspection tour at the Federal Science and Technology College Yaba in Lagos, Mrs. Helen Jemerigbe, ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project Director, said the initiative is committed to producing skilled manpower that will not only be self employed but also serve as employers of labour.

Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, represented by Mrs. Susan Oludiya, a Director in the Ministry, and officials of ITF and NECA were taken round the college’s electrical laboratory where the various tools and equipment donated to the school where displayed and inspected by the group. They included, control pumps, widow conductors, ovens, electricity generator as well as tools bodies filled with electrical tools.

Aganga said the Federal Government is looking forward to the betterment of the life of the citizens, while noting that they are currently exploiting every available medium to achieve this, especially in the area of trade and investment.

“We will look into what can be done to make sure that we give our best as we are trying to be accountable,” he maintained.

Other materials donated to the electronic laboratory of the college includes: power supply devices, digital video recorders, transmission line, security cameras, stabilizers plasma TV sets among others.

The group was also shown the various project works that students have been able to do with the tools and equipment provided by ITF-NECA intervention. This is believed that after their training will make them self-employed as well as earn them money.

Expressing his gratitude to ITF and NECA, Director/Principal of the college, Mr. William Iweama, said the training which its staff went through under the ITF-NECA intervention is highly appreciated and will soon yield positive result as the staff’s report is currently been examined by the department heads after which it will be implemented to better the lot of the students.

Also speaking, Dr. Eno Ibokete, Technical Coordinator of the college, used the occasion to enjoin the initiative to encourage female students to also acquire technical skills by granting them scholarship as it is only their male counterparts that are often found in the field.

“There is need for sponsorship of student, particularly the female ones for they actually need to be encouraged,” Ibokete added.

Furthermore, the Electrical Head instructor of the college, Mr. Koladoye, said with the school’s usage of the equipment provided them by ITF and NECA, there is need for the Ministry to help in the area of industrial attachment as many industries, currently, reject students posted to undertake industrial training with them.

This, he said, if addressed, will go a long way in helping the students garner the necessary experience.