The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has selected 100 youths around Maiduguri, Borno state to build their skills in modern methods of vulcanising as part of the directives given to the Agency by President Muhammadu Buhari in the on-going nationwide skill acquisition for youths.
This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by deputy director, Information NASENI, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan stressing that the skill acquisition will not only make the youth competitive in their jobs but also help them create wealth.
Speaking on the programmeExecutive vice chairman/chief executive of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, remarked that the programme was a specialised one in the North-East Zonal intervention by the Presidency through NASENI, focusing on the modern method of vulcanizing and capacity building on the use of modern equipment in the vocation.
Prof.Haruna said, what NASENI introduced to the youths in Maiduguri with this programme was in line with the global trends and appropriate skill setting. According to him “the training will expose the beneficiaries to new skill sets that will be required for them to make fortune and maintain a competitive edge in the vulcanising business.
He said the trainees will become a new set of vulcanising technicians who can provide modern vehicles with more electronics components and smarter technologies compared to hitherto manual based vehicles.
As the trends in vehicle manufacturing continue to advance, the service providers that will be able to cope with technological advancement in the vehicle maintenance including the vulcanizing technicians must be well trained to cope with the new dynamics, the NASENI boss added.
Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum expressed appreciation to the federal government and NASENI for the exercise, he said the occupational trade and advanced skills development selected for Borno State could not have come at a better time than now when the reconstruction efforts and rehabilitation of the people are top priorities or agenda of both Borno State government and the federal government even as the people have decided to give peace and development a chance.
This programme is the first-phase of the North-East Regional Skill Development of the NASENI in the implementation of the series of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to the agency, to ensure the development of skills of Nigeria’s teeming youths necessary for job creation and self-employment generation.
Represented by the acting Borno State Head of Service, Barrister Mallum Fanami, Governor Zulu, said, economic activities, job creation and employment generation are the bedrocks for keeping and sustaining peace because when the people, especially the youths are fully engaged or when they find fulfilment in their means of livelihood, there is the confidence to turn down overtures to be part of crime or carrying out acts that are inimical to the wellbeing and harmonious living together of the people.
He said “in a city like Maiduguri where there is a high number of vehicles; a person with such vocations that are related to repairs or maintenance of cars or services ought to be in business always because car owners always require their services to keep the vehicles on the road. Therefore, vulcanizing which is the focus of this particular training is one of such highly sought after vocations in the car vehicles maintenance services. But the challenge has been the low level of technology adaptation and lack of use of modern equipment in fixing tires either for repairs of punctured tires or outright replacement.
“The training will equip participants with advanced troubleshooting tools and complete occupational resources required to repair any tire employing modern equipment, tools and methods. The trainees are carefully selected from those who are earning their living as vulcanizers but requiring such advanced methods to fix tires, enhance efficiency and to make the maintenance of tires or replacement less arduous.”
