Nigeria, a country with an estimated population of 200 million people suffers significantly from the menace of unemployment/underemployment, in Lagos, its most populated state, the situation is even more overwhelming as young people continue to run out of gainful employment. This is caused by the constantly rising population of youths and the overdependence of individuals on career prospects in white-collar job opportunities. Unfortunately, as the youth populace increases, the unemployment rate also skyrockets!
Many members of our societies continue to underrate vocational training and skills acquisition programs as partakers in them are largely considered as inferior to their professional counterparts. This notion is however wrong and must be changed if more youths are to be granted access to financial freedom. The opportunities which abound in supposedly unconventional industries such as vocational employment.
In order to achieve this, the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) has set up the Skills for Work initiative (#S4W), to offer learning opportunities and training programs for youths within the state who seek self-employment avenues. This will contribute to the eventual fulfilment of the LASTVEB mandate which is to provide technical and vocational education for members of the general public, especially the youths.
The Skills for Work (#S4W) initiative offers quality technical and vocational education which enhances the effectiveness and efficiency that will lead to the productivity and self-reliance of the youths within the state.
The #S4W program also provides free training in various skills and an example is Furniture and Carpentry, which are some of the most common and accessible vocational skills available in our communities. In many places, these skills are the landmarks of vocational skills acquisition. As an occupation, Furniture and Carpentry, though physically tasking is highly lucrative as it offers long term proficiency in demand. These skills belong to the class of construction-related trade which are a great career choice for many hardworking and talented young people.
Candidates who complete the Skills for Work Furniture and Carpentry training can build lasting individual entrepreneurial careers which offer job flexibility and ensure enduring job security coupled with self-paced financial freedom. According to ‘The Salary Explorer’, a person working as a Carpenter in Nigeria typically earns around 122,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 64,800 NGN (lowest) to 186,000 NGN (highest). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.
LASTVEB, therefore, encourages members of the general public especially the youths to participate in the ongoing Skills for Work (#S4W) program where recipients will receive a quality hands-on and practical education on the technicalities of Furniture and Carpentry. This will therefore guarantee an avenue for more Lagosians to become financially independent members of society.
The Skills for Work (#S4W) scheme is a tool that LASTVEB has effectively employed to cater to its responsibilities in Lagos State. These responsibilities are fulfilled by providing support to Technical Colleges within the State to create accessible initiatives where free vocational training is provided for interested candidates. LASTVEB has, therefore, by so doing, proven its consistent commitment to economic sustainability within the state.