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By Sunday Ani
In a strategic move to sustain the campaign against irregular migration in Nigeria, a nongovernmental organisation, iSafe, in partnership with TAG International, recently completed a training programme for over 210 graduates across multiple vocational fields in Ogun State.
Tagged, ‘HOME Project,’ the programme is aimed at providing the young people with the skills and resources needed to build sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking about the programme, Project Manager of the economic empowerment programme of HOME, Patricia Njoku said the idea behind the project is to reduce irregular migration and economic vulnerabilities, since participants are empowered through vocational training, business development support, digital literacy and job placements.
She said most young people who are deceived into believing that the pasture is greener over there in Europe and America fall easily to the antics of traffickers because they don’t have jobs.
“By fostering financial independence and entrepreneurship, the initiative creates long-term economic opportunities, particularly for youth and women; a development we believe, would mitigate the risks of employment scams and exploitative labour conditions outside the shores of Nigeria,” she added.
She noted that the project operates across eight vocational training centres (VTCs) in Ogun State, including Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Obafemi Owode and Sagamu local government areas.
“A total of 210 participants have successfully completed training in high-demand sectors, including renewable energy, like solar panel installation and energy audits; fashion and textile (Abaya, blouse, and skirt-making, as well as Adire production); agriculture (Snail farming and advanced soil treatment techniques); digital skills (IT literacy, e-commerce, and digital marketing) and entrepreneurship and business development, involving financial management, business pitching and access to startup capital.
“The project goes beyond training by ensuring that participants gain real world work experience. Internship placements have been secured for 70 percent of the beneficiaries in top organisations.
“Additionally, practical assessments and competency-based trade tests were conducted across all vocational fields, ensuring that graduates are job-ready. Participants also engaged in industry-relevant hands-on training, business masterclasses, digital literacy and business quizzes, with remedial support where needed,” she stated.
She stated that the project equally integrated counselling, mentorship and business coaching into its programme.
“Participants received guidance in legal and regulatory compliance, essential for sustainable business growth; financial management and investment readiness, equipping them for investor engagement; emotional resilience and trauma management, with dedicated sessions on self-esteem and mental health and a train-the-trainer resilience programme conducted for 15 members of the reintegration committee, thereby strengthening their capacity to monitor vocational centres and uphold training standards,” she said.
Participants were equally provided with start up tools such as brand new laptops, tool box for solar beneficiaries, sewing machine and sewing accessories, among others. They were also given cash grants and equipment based on the fields of skills training.
