By Leo Zwanke, Lafia
CleanTop Services Ltd, an integrated farm owned by former Nasarawa State governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. David Emmanuel Ombugadu, has flagged off a six-month vocational skills acquisition programme for 200 trainees in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The flag-off ceremony, held at Sa’abhi International Hotel and Resort, Karu, Nasarawa State on Thursday is being implemented under the IDEAS-TVET Cohort 3 programme of the World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria.
The programme is being delivered in collaboration with CleanTop Services Ltd, which serves as the Training Service Provider (TSP) for the initiative.
The six-month training is designed to equip the beneficiaries with practical skills in fisheries and aquaculture, while successful participants are expected to obtain a National Skill Qualification (NSQ) recognised and awarded by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Speaking on the programme, the Training Programme Manager (TPM), Mr Vincent Yoko, said the initiative was aimed at providing beneficiaries with relevant vocational skills that could improve their capacity for self-employment and participation in the aquaculture value chain.
Yoko explained that the training would combine vocational skills acquisition with practical knowledge required to operate and manage fisheries and aquaculture enterprises.
He said the programme was part of efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and training by giving participants skills that could be applied beyond the classroom.
According to him, the involvement of the World Bank, Federal Government and IDEAS-TVET would provide the beneficiaries with an opportunity to acquire skills and a recognised qualification alongside practical experience.
He urged the 200 trainees to take the training seriously, describing their participation as an opportunity to acquire skills that could serve as a foundation for sustainable livelihoods.
One of the beneficiaries, Joe Amadu Sireh, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the programme, saying the training would expose beneficiaries to practical knowledge in fisheries and aquaculture.
Sireh said the opportunity was particularly important because of the increasing need for young people and other Nigerians to acquire vocational skills that could translate into productive economic activities.
Another beneficiary, Oziohu Felix, also welcomed the programme, saying the six-month training would provide participants with an opportunity to develop practical competence in a specialised area.
Felix said the participants were looking forward to gaining hands-on experience and making effective use of the skills acquired during the training.
The beneficiaries said the recognition of the training through the National Skill Qualification would further give participants a formal qualification that could support their future career and enterprise development.
The organisers said the six-month training would expose participants to various aspects of Fisheries and Aquaculture, with emphasis on practical vocational competence.
The programme is being implemented under the IDEAS-TVET framework, with CleanTop Services Ltd serving as the Training Service Provider for the cohort.
At the end of the training, participants who meet the requirements are expected to receive the National Skill Qualification, providing them with a formally recognised vocational qualification in the field.