The Lagos State government has conducted a passing out ceremony for 200 artisans under its Master Craftsman Training Programme to further tackle the shortage of skilled middle-level workers in the construction sector.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said, during the ceremony and at Agidingbi, Lagos, that the training was aimed at closing the skills deficit in the built sector.
Sanwo-Olu added that the training would empower artisans and craftsmen and also help to stimulate the provision of sustainable, decent, and affordable housing projects in the state.
The governor, represented by Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, said the initiative was the first of its kind in Nigeria.
He said the programme was also in fulfillment of his promise to Lagos residents to uplift youths and develop the housing value chain.
“As a government, we have consistently identified gaps in the various sectors of the economy and equally set plans in motion to address them. Hence our desire to build sustainable and affordable housing projects across the state, leveraging on raw talents from within our space.
“This will promote local content, especially in areas such as masonry, furniture and carpentry, plumbing and pipe fitting, electrical installation and maintenance as well as painting and decoration.
“In addition, we are committed to not only growing the capacity of artisans but also networking them to potential markets and making them the priority for our housing projects across the state,” said.
The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said the housing sector represented “M” in the governor’s THEMES Plus Agenda with a strong focus on bridging shelter the gap.
Akinderu-Fatai said the intensive six-week training ensured programmes were designed to cover both theoretical and practical methods to equip participants with contemporary concepts, techniques, practices, and approaches in the sector.
He said the initiative would consolidate the efforts of the state government in the provision of safe and sustainable housing projects for the public and contribute to the eradication of the global housing deficit.
The commissioner added that the Ministry of Housing adopted the best global standards by partnering with the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), and other relevant stakeholders.
“Hence, it is pertinent to state clearly that the training syllabus of the Master Craftsman programme was approved by NIOB and LASTVEB which makes the certification acceptable both locally and globally,” he said.
The Executive Secretary, LASTVEB, Ms. Moronke Azeez, represented by Mr. Oluwo, said if artisans were not properly trained, they would deliver bad services.
Azeez said there were too many quacks in the industry and appealed to the graduates to avoid working with them towards upholding high construction standards.
The Chairman, the House Committee on Housing in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Ege Adebisi, said the training was beyond skills and had given the beneficiaries confidence, urging them to ensure the preservation of craft.
