… as 50 benefit free entrepreneurial training
By Matthew Denis
The Nigerian Workforce Strategy and Enlightenment Centre (NIWOSEC),ย ย a Non-Governmental Organisation has concluded plans to partner the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to improve the welfare of artisans in the country.
The United Nations agency is expected to ensure payment of pension to people in the skilled labour sector in accordance to international standard.
This is coming as no fewer than 50 artisans in Kwara State benefited free entrepreneurial training on ‘How to make money’ and ways of improving their enterprises to attract more patronage.
The programme which took place at Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin on Thursday had captains of industries, economists, unionists and members of artisans groups in attendance.
The Executive Director of NIWOSEC, Comrade David Kayode Ehindero explained that, “The free entrepreneurship lecture is aimed at exposing artisans on how to utilise opportunities to make more income.
“This programme came up because we discovered that the skilled sectors of the economy that’s the artisans are not given adequate attention in the society.
“They have been left to survived on their own and not seen as integral set of people that are responsible for the growth of this nation.
“We felt there is need for us to change public perspective about them. There is need for the society to appreciate skilled labour and to encourage young people on vocational activities targeted at reducing unemployment rate in the country.
Ehindero, however, argued that artisan deserved to be paid pension owing to their contribution to the economic growth of the country.
โWe are also partnering ILO to ensure that artisans benefit pension because they render vocational and entrepreneurial skills to the society. Therefore, they deserve to be paid pension in accordance with international practices
โSome of these artisans can be identified by ILO with the quality of what they do; solving a societal problem and thereby capture them for pension as a life coverage,” he added.
The representative of the Director of Labour and Employment in Kwara State, Mrs. Rachel Adeoyeย ย called on employers of labourers to take proper care of their staff welfarism, adding that the ministry intervenes in staff/management disputes.
In his address,ย ย a former Director of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Anthony Njoku urged youths to exploit their creativity for economic gain and stop endless wait for limited white collar jobs.
