The Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) which will see the two institutions leveraging over N15 billion which has been so far generated through the federal government initiative to raise funds for the development of human capacity to drive the rapidly growing Nigerian cement industry.
The partnership between the two institutions signifies the formal commencement of capacity building activities by the cement institute inaugurated about four years ago to sharpen skills and technology in the cement and allied sectors.
The Chairman of the Board of CTIN and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who signed the MoU with the Director-General of ITF, Dr. Mrs. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, in Lagos, said the first phase of the capacity-building to be targeted by the synergy is the training of artisans in the building and construction industry which has a direct relationship with the cement industry in the country.
“We are all aware that it has become a norm rather than practice to seek for competent artisans and craftsmen from the neighbouring countries, due mainly to inadequate vocational training given to our local tradesmen and women,” Dangote said, stressing that the CTIN-ITF collaboration will work towards reversing this “unacceptable” trend.
The CTIN Chairman said the institute is the first of its kind established to among other things, to train and enhance manpower in cement technology and related fields; and to liaise with other relevant institutions and bodies with a view to enhancing cement technology development.
He explained that in close relation with the objectives of CTIN are those of the ITF. Noting that “ITF has among its mandate to provide, promote and encourage acquisition of skills in industry and commerce with a view to generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of private and public sectors of the economy; as well as evaluation and certification of vocational skills acquired by apprentices, craftsmen and technicians.
“The present efforts to enhance the skills of our artisans and craftsmen is therefore a symbiotic relationship between two organisations saddled with the responsibility of impacting skills and knowledge to our trades men and women,” he stressed.
Dangote stated further that the collaboration is aimed at achieving the following objectives: To organise and conduct training programmes for artisans and craftsmen in the building industry; determine specific needs and opportunity for capacity building and process improvement for artisans and craftsmen that use cement to execute their work; promote professionalism, proficiency and actualisation of the training to-work initiative and entrepreneurship so as to discourage the importation of foreign artisans and craftsmen from neighbouring countries; and complement the success of transformation agenda of the present administration in the area of youth empowerment and employment generation.
Also commenting on the partnership, ITF Director General, Chukkas-Onaeko, explained that the initiative which is funded by CTIN will take advantage of the already existing training and certification framework for all calibre of skills within her organisation and help to turn out qualified and highly skilled artisan to serve the rapidly evolving Nigeria cement industry as well as ancillary industries such as building and construction.
“We are all very familiar with the evolution of the cement industry in this country, which had recorded over 39 million metric tonnes installed with more plants under construction, rehabilitation and expansion. It has therefore become imperative not only to expand the utilisation and consumption of cement but also to guarantee its safe and efficient usage. This training programme, which is targeted to cover the entire country will among others, broadens the scope of the use of cement in various construction works. The training workshop has been designed to impact the necessary skills to 350 artisans and craftsmen in each of the nine states to be covered in the first phase,” she said.
She added that the training will cover the following trade areas: carpentry, tile laying, Plaster of Paris (POP) works, electrical works, masonry, plumbing, as well as block making/Inter-Locking Tiles works.
“It is also important to announce that the first phase of the training programme will cover a state each from the six (6) geo-political zones as well as three (3) peculiar states of Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt,” the DG said.
President Goodluck Jonathan initiated the CTIN almost four years ago generating funds for it from a 15 per cent levy placed on major cement importers and manufacturers in the country at that time. The fund has now grown substantially and is being tapped for the development of the industry.
THISDAY
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