A formal structure to replace today’s largely informal apprenticeship system may improve youth employment rates, experts say.
The informal sector is the base of the societal pyramid, largely unorganised, overly boisterous and hardly bankable part of the economy and often regarded as the underground economy.
Two striking informal hubs which train expert but mostly uncertified technicians and other artisans are the Ikeja Computer Village and the Refrigerator and Air-condition Dealers hub in Lawason, both in Lagos. The Ikeja Computer Village has about 50,000 technology entrepreneurs, skilled technicians and apprentices in service, while the Lawanson hub has 5,000 registered members. There are several such hubs across the country, aside the myriad one-shop apprenticeships.
At the Computer Village, a broad spectrum of Information Communication Technologies related skills are developed and deployed, while the Lawson hub, equips its members with skills in the repair of washing machines, refrigerators and airconditioners, as well as micro-wave ovens, television sets among others.
Emeka Osuji, senior fellow, at the school of business administration, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos says, “for some countries like Nigeria, which have squandered their growth and development opportunities, this sector is actually the dominant economy, with well over half their population domiciled in it.
“Every wise nation or government should focus on the sector to make it part of the engine of growth it is meant to be.”
Ike Mowete, a professor of electrical-electronics engineering at the University of Lagos, says, “I think one way to proceed is to invite the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to assess what is on ground, design a curriculum and then initiate a process of certification.”
The Ministry of Communication Technology estimates the Village generates N 366 billion ($184 million) annually.
Gbenga Sodimu who sells phones and laptop computers, said, “there are people who never dreamt of having jobs but are now employed. In a month, I can make between N100,000 and N200,000 naira, depending on sales. Those who repair phones because of their skills could make more money.”
Mowete, says, “I am amazed at what these guys do at the Computer Village. The sophistication of their problem solving processes and the devices they use are noteworthy. I believe a formalisation of what goes on there would radically transform its value-chain.”
Victor Odumuyiwa, a computer science lecturer, at the University of Lagos contends that the Computer Village does not create any form of technology. It only maintains existing, imported technology. “However, to the extent that the Village shuns piracy and concentrates on innovation, there should be a way of transforming it into a Silicon Valley-style ICT hub.”
