From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said he would sponsor a bill for the establishment of a National Apprenticeship Scheme, as part of efforts to tackle youths’ unemployment in the country.
This was made known in a statement by Kalu’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, after a meeting with the management team of Bildup Integrated Services (Bildup Africa) led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chibuike Aguene, at the weekend.
The deputy speaker said he was equally working on a bill to allow for more national languages outside English as the country’s official language, to be introduced in the House soon.
Kalu, who decried the large number of unskilled youths in the country, noted that the apprenticeship system currently practised mostly in the South East as ‘Igba-Boi’ would be institutionalized through a legislative intervention by the House.
He explained that the idea was in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, according to him, is committed to creating more employment opportunities for the citizens, especially the youths.
“I would like to express my gratitude for your contributions to skills training, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria, and in the African continent as a whole.
“Your commitment to skills development and entrepreneurship aligns with our nation’s aspirations for economic growth, job creation, and empowerment of our youth. I applaud your organization for working on this timely and nationally important national apprenticeship scheme.
“At the 10th House of Representatives, we anchor our legislative activities on the core principle of participatory governance. We are focused on delivering a regulatory environment that only supports entrepreneurship development but also encourages commerce and facilitates the growth of the economy. It is in this vein that I acknowledge the calls for supporting legislation that institutionalizes the newly designed National Apprenticeship Scheme.
“Our legislative process is open to constructive dialogue, and we welcome your insights and recommendations. Together, let us work towards a bill that bridges the huge skills gap across the country, while being the igniting point for an industrial revolution that Nigeria so dearly needs,” the deputy speaker stated.
Earlier, Aguene, in his speech requested the support of the Deputy Speaker in projecting a legislative framework that would institutionalise a dual apprenticeship system in Nigeria.
According to him, “An institutionalised dual apprenticeship system will act as a conduit, offering a real-world application of the skills acquired through theoretical education. It serves as the vital bridge that transforms academic knowledge into practical expertise, ensuring that individuals not only grasp with the theoretical concepts, but also gain hands-on experience relevant to the demands of their chosen fields.”