German Chamber offers Industrial skills and Competency Training to Nigerians

The Project Organization of the German Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria on Friday August 28 graduated the first set of successfully trained apprentices in Technical Facility Management.

The DVT program is collaboration between the German Government, LCCI, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dangote Group and other members of the private sector. The program is 25% theory and 75% practice and is aimed at improving industrial skills and competency. The trainees are not charged fees and are matched with industries while undergoing the 12 months training.

The DVT is initiated by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCI) Giessen-Friedberg and is vital for sustainable economic development. It focuses on the improvement of vocational education quality within Nigerian enterprises by a better combination of theory and practice. With this approach it contributes to the employability among the Nigerian youths and hence supports to the growth in the industry.

At the graduation ceremony held within the premises of ITF, Oregun in Lagos, 9 graduates who had undergone a 12 months training in Technical Facility Management received their certificates. Two weeks earlier, 12 other graduates in office administration had graduated from the program and equally received their certificates at an event at the LCCI conference centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

One of the instructors, barrister Olufunmilayo Oju, described the program as a positive and worthy project that empowers most young people to work for themselves in case they cannot find employment and for those already in employment, to increase their productivity. This, she said, translates to productivity and enhanced National GDP. She further explained that with the DVT program, theory is better married with practice.

The Project Co-ordinator, Dual Vocational Training Partnership with Nigeria Delegation Of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria/AHK, Engr. Kehinde Stephen Awoyele, stated that the program sponsored by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry offers industrial skills and Competency Training to young Nigerians. He also said that to date, the program has turned out 120 Trainers and 60 Trainees in Industrial mechanics, electronics, premises maintenance and office administration. He stated that private sector industries are the ones mainstreaming the program which has the focus of improving the productivity and employability of young men and women.

Responding to questions regarding the program, the project Director and Chairman of the Examination Board, Dr. Jens Gebhardt, said that technical cum practical training has been the key pivot of the German economy for over 60 years and this approach has contributed in very great measure to the high industrial output of German industries. According to him, the program is based on two pillars – education and enterprise. The program is currently implemented in Lagos, Abuja and Abeokuta and has a lifespan of three years in the first instance subject to renewal and program extension.

Dual vocational training is being recognized worldwide as a strategic approach towards developing highly skilled and competent workforce for industry. For instance the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC), in recognition of this fact, went into cooperation with the Department of Skills Development of the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) and has implemented the German Dual Vocational Training (DVT) program in Malaysia since June 2014 based on German training standards.

“Companies joining the program have the opportunity to create a pool of qualified professionals with practical skills and competencies paired with sound theoretical knowledge. Thus, the private sector will be able leverage on industry-specific skills and qualifications acquired mainly in a corporate environment and actual and genuine commercial processes. Participation in the program reduces recruitment and settling-in cost as well as make it easier for companies to retain their talents through the identification of the trainees with the company, its products and strategies”.

The next batch of trainees at the Lagos centre commences in October and will last for another 12 months. Presently, the project is running programs for trainees at Abuja and Abeokuta centres.