Federal Polytechnic Owerri Partners FTAISA UK On Entrepreneurship Training

Gerard Izuora

The  Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri Imo state has signed a linkage agreement with the UK based Foreign Trade & Investment Services Africa-FTAISA, for the provision of specialized international certification training program on Skills and entrepreneurship development for the unemployed youths and students across the country. 

The programme also aims at preparing the youths of the country for highly competitive job markets across the world.

The program which is structured under the City & Guilds of London Institute TECHBAC and Ukrainian V.N Karazin Kharkiv National University Skills development curriculum will run side by side as a certification program at the FEDPOLYNEK/FTAISA SKILLS AND PROJECT CENTRE within the premises of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede.

The FTAISA Skills training & Entrepreneurship development agency which is successfully running a similar program in Abeokuta, Ogun State in partnership with the Ogun State government allows a learner to develop practical skills and not just theory and on completion, obtains qualifications that are recognized by the Government which creates a highly talented young workforce that contributes in job creation and boost economic growth. 

This new approach which has been designed to bridge the gap between education and employment is beingadjudged by experts as Ogun State’s smartest investment.

 According to a release signed by Dr Cliff Ogbede, who doubles as FTAISA Director and co-Chairman of FEDPOLYNEK FTAISA SKILLS PROJECT CENTRE, “We decided to concentrate the training within the following subject areas in other to meet industry demands in Nigeria: AUTOMOTIVE-Includes vehicle and motorbike maintenance, repair and specialist tyre fitting, BEAUTY-Includes nail technology, media make-up, beauty therapy and spa therapy, BUILDING SERVICES-Includes plumbing, electrical installation, refrigeration and air conditioning, BUSINESS STUDIES-includes legal and medical administration, CONSTRUCTION–includes tiling, painting, decorating, carpentry & joinery and stone masonry, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY-Includes digital technologies and ICT, ENGINEERING–Includes electrical and electronics engineering, mechanical engineering and maintenance engineering, HAIR DRESSING-Includes hair dressing and barbering, HEALTH CARE-Includes health and care, health care support and health care support services, HOSPITALITY & CATERING– Includes patisserie and confectionery, food and beverage services and cookery, LAND AND ANIMAL– Includes agriculture, equine management, floristry and horticulture and TRAVEL & TOURISM– which includes business hospitality industry training, travel and tourism in general.

 In addition to the existing program, Dr Ogbede stated that the new FEDPOLYNEK-FTAISA Skills and Project Centre has equally developed a special refresher course for artisans, owners of small & medium enterprises and industry workers which will enable them upgrade their knowledge in their chosen areas of specialization and on completion obtain academic qualifications and recognition as alumni of the institute. 

Being an international initiative, the program is designed to set one apart from job competition and it achieves this by not only giving a leaner the International qualification but also the professional workplace skills needed by employers. The program offers flexible timing to meet ones individual needs, allowing a learner to study alongside other qualifications and open doors to further learning, employment, furthering academic pursuits in the Polytechnic or any University, thereby offering unlimited opportunities. 

It offers hands on practical learning that helps a learner to feel prepared for the workplace and gives learners real hands-on experience that will help them to feel ready for the world of work which is recognized by leading employers in more than 80 countries, thereby ensuring that one is “ready to work” with an international mark of quality which gives the learner a competitive edge. One of the major benefits of the program is that it makes learner’s CV stand out with an impressive mix of technical skills and gives learners the basic recognized qualification to access international job opportunities and entrepreneurship start-up funds through our local and international financial support agencies. The program equally provides outstanding learners the opportunity to further participate in the project center’s international internship programs overseas.

 Ogbede enumerated the importance of the programtowards boosting job creation in the country as it shows a strong commitment to meeting employer’s needs; hence it is being designed in close partnership with industries which places real emphasis on employability.The qualification to be awarded by the centre is a stamp of quality that says a young person has both the relevant technical skills and the key workplace behaviors identified by employers as this unique combination ensures that our graduates will be able to perform at work from day one.

 Ogbede further said that the FEDPOLYNEK/FTAISA SKILLS PROJECT CENTRE workplace skills training program prepares young people for the real work environment with practical experiences and employer interactions and promotes independent learning as well as teamwork to help prepare young people for the world of work. The program will help young people to develop up to 24 work place skills and behaviors identified by employers as essential in the workplace and provide formal recognition of these workplace skills that are not currently accredited so an employer can easily evaluate a young Person’s competences.

 He enjoined parents and guardians to encourage their wards to take advantage of the current opportunity provided by the Federal Polytechnic Nekede to enroll in such a program that offers them opportunities for local and international job placements while pleading with the Federal and State Governments to offer scholarship to indigent students who cannot afford the cost of the program.