Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 18/May 21:39

PTI inducts second batch of vocational trainees in Delta

The Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State, has inducted the second batch of participants for the Federal Ministry of Education Technical and Vocational Education and Training Skills Acquisition Programme aimed at equipping youths with practical and employable skills. The induction ceremony, held at the institute’s conference centre in Effurun, drew management staff, government officials, instructors and trainees from different parts of the country. Speaking at the event, the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Samuel Onoji, described the programme as part of PTI’s efforts towards promoting technical education, youth empowerment and national development. According to him, the FME-TVET initiative was designed to provide structured practical training capable of producing skilled and self-reliant youths ready to meet modern industrial demands. Onoji said the trainees would undergo intensive hands-on learning, workplace ethics, safety procedures and quality assurance training to improve their competence and employability. He noted that the labour market now places greater emphasis on practical abilities and technical expertise beyond academic qualifications. The PTI boss added that industries increasingly require individuals who can solve practical problems, handle equipment safely and contribute meaningfully to productivity. He disclosed that the institute had earlier trained 200 participants in the first batch of the programme, a development he said contributed to PTI’s recent upgrade to a Grade A Training Centre. According to him, the recognition reflects the institute’s commitment to quality training, modern facilities and internationally accepted standards. Onoji explained that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Federal Ministry of Education to reposition technical and vocational education as a tool for tackling unemployment and stimulating economic growth. He urged the newly inducted trainees to remain disciplined and committed throughout the training period. “You are not just trainees but future leaders, innovators and contributors to the nation’s economy,” he said. Also speaking, the Registrar and Secretary to Council of PTI, Isaac Fregene, described the programme as a timely intervention to bridge the country’s widening skills gap. He said technical and vocational education remained one of the most effective approaches to addressing youth unemployment and promoting industrial development. “Skill acquisition is now the foundation of sustainable economic growth. Nations that invest in technical education secure their future prosperity,” he stated. In her remarks, the Acting Chief Coordinator of the Skills Development Academy, Mrs Susan Oyeleye, encouraged participants to remain focused on learning and self-development. She stressed the importance of skilled manpower and entrepreneurship in driving innovation and national transformation. Oyeleye also urged the trainees not to be discouraged by challenges during the training process. “The journey to success requires determination, patience and resilience. With hard work and perseverance, your future will be bright,” she said. Speaking further, the Centre Coordinator of the National Skills Qualification Department, Engr. Abubakar Edicha, disclosed that the trainees would receive intensive instruction in 16 technical skill areas selected to meet industry needs. He expressed optimism that the programme would help reduce unemployment among youths in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country through the provision of practical vocational skills. The ceremony ended with the formal induction of the trainees and renewed calls for Nigerian youths to embrace technical and vocational education as a pathway to self-reliance and national development.