allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Getting Artisans Certified

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Getting Artisans Certified

The federal government recently announced its desire to develop a National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF), a system that will award certificates to artisans on skills and competencies, irrespective of how and where they were obtained. While applauding this initiative, artisans are still sceptical about the feasibility of the framework in Nigeria.

If the second stakeholders meeting on National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) became fruitful, people with non-formal education on the various skills in Nigeria will have hope of a better livelihood and much respect as their counterpart with formal education. The federal government through the National Board for Technical Education is planning to develop a a framework, with the acronym, NVQF, which will accord recognition to artisans like roadside mechanics, vulcanisers, caterers, tailors, craftsmen, carpenters, masons, photographers, gardeners, among others.

The framework according to participants during the meeting held between the 31st of August and 1st of September, 2010 at the Shehu Musa Yardua Center in Abuja will get rid of the old system whereby only those who passed through the four walls of educational institutions get certificates, even though their skills and competencies are hardly a good match to their artisan counterparts. The framework they agreed will give a facelift to unskilled manpower and provide a better reward and remuneration system. The labour market they noted have been awash with graduates who half baked, and unemployable. Those who are employed must be re-trained to acquaint them with the basic skills which they failed to get in the formal school system.

Speaking at the opening session, Chairman of the governing board of NBTE, Engr. Musa Abudllahi noted; "our traditional qualification systems do not appropriately address the informal sector situation. Yet this is the sector where most vocational training as well as jobs is located. National recognitions is not given to the skills and competencies acquired in this important sector. The system does not allow individuals who might not have any certificates, but have gained useful relevant experience or competence, to secure formal qualification for additional improvement."

"This implies that mechanics, vulcanizers, carpenters, caterers, tailors, will be tested based on their competencies and issued certificates by the federal government which they can use even outside Nigeria to get jobs, when the relevant legislative procedures are in place."