Ishk Tolaram Foundation, a non-government organisation headquartered in Singapore reaffirms its commitment to reducing unemployment among youths in Nigeria and fostering economic growth through vocational skills training.
This was revealed during its 2024 conference “Advancing TVET in Nigeria: Standardisation, Curriculum Development, and Certification,” held in Lagos on Thursday.
The event converged players from government, industry, and academia to address the gap in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nigeria and equip youths for employment through its vocational skills training program.
“To create awareness and solutions to challenges confronting TVET practice, Ishk launched a vocational skilling conference in 2023 as part of its annual program graduation ceremony in Lagos,” it said.
According to a report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 from 4.2 per cent in the previous quarter.
The report showed that the labour force participation rate among the working-age population declined to 79.5 per cent in Q3 compared to 80.4 per cent in Q2.
However, the conference highlighted the need to equip Nigerian youths with marketable skills shaped by industry demands in response to the country’s unemployment crisis.
“Ishk Tolaram Foundation (Ishk) has equipped young Nigerians for employment through its vocational skills training program. It offers unemployed youth access to quality skills training, tooling, internships, and certification to earn an income,” it said.
Zeinab Oluwatoyin Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development says an increased investment in youth empowerment can drive Nigeria’s economic growth and reduce unemployment.
“The Ministry of Youth and Social Development is partnering with the Industrial Training Fund to ensure that no youth in Lagos State is left behind, aligning with one of the key objectives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” she said.
Oje Ivagba, program director of Ishk Tolaram Foundation, emphasised the foundation’s commitment to transforming the lives of unemployed youth by equipping them with the practical skills necessary to secure meaningful employment.
“The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the regions where they operate through skills development, health, and education. In Nigeria, their efforts are concentrated on skilling and health initiatives,” he said
Ivagba highlighted that 300 Nigerians had completed six months of intensive training, transitioning from unemployment to meaningful employment.
“These individuals underwent three months of vocational training, followed by three months of paid internships across Lagos, and also passed a trade test,” he added.
He stressed the conviction of the foundation to explore strategic partnerships to improve the program’s employability outcomes for youth.
According to the foundation, thirty-one students were awarded the Ishk Award for Excellence, recognising their dedication and performance throughout the training program.
“Many graduates have already secured jobs or started their businesses, exemplifying the potential of vocational education to offer a sustainable solution to youth unemployment,” Ishk said.
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