Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, will, tomorrow, Friday August 13, 2021, flag off a project that promises to empower thousands of youths in the state and eventually across the country.
The program, Global Certification on Solar Technology Training for Unemployed Youths is being packaged by the Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America-based International Information Technology and Applications Educational LLC in collaboration with the Lagos State Government’s Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment .
The official flag off of the program holds at the NECA House, Hakeem Habeeb Street,CBD, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos at 10:00 am (WAT).
The International Information Technology and Applications Educational LLC that is pioneering the program was founded by Professor Tokunbo Onabanjo and has Dr. Kazeem Bello, a US-based economist as a partner and faculty member. They designed the project which is aimed at providing requisite skills for Nigerian youths to become self employed technicians and also employ other youths to generate solar power electricity for Nigeria, which is in dire need of electric power.
At the end of the training, the successful youths will be supported through provision of tools for them to start the business and trade, the projection being that about 10 megawatts of solar power electricity will be generated nationwide per annum. It is also estimated that the program will generate business income and trade activities of between $50 to $60 million annually for Nigeria.
The major goal of the Institute is to provide cognate Training and Development for Trainees in several Vocational skills and Trades, which they have been doing in the US, the Caribbean and some parts of Africa.
The Solar Power Training project, however, is specifically for sub-Saharan Africa where they have already successfully graduated a couple of Trainees, especially in Nigeria and Ghana.
The plan of the Institute is to replicate this Training across Nigeria, especially considering the gross inadequacy of Electricity supply in the country and the huge number of unemployed Youths .
The pilot Training Program started successfully in Nigeria about two weeks ago. The Online curriculum and Hands -On Practical Training are currently going on successfully with the Trainees upbeat and excited about the project.
The current pilot training collaboration with the Lagos State government, through its Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is testimony to the passion of the State Governor to quickly solve the massive Youths unemployment problem in the State.
About 300 Trainees are involved in the program though the target is about 6,000 Trainees for Lagos State. The Institute is currently in talks with SMEDAN for a collaboration that would assist to move the project Nationwide after successful completion of the Pilot program.
The satisfaction of the State government with the achievements recorded so far has encouraged the official flag-off the program scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, August 13, 2021.
The Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and SMEDAN are expected to be part of the flag-off ceremony.
