The Akwa Ibom government is set to inaugurate a state-of-the-art skills acquisition center to boost entrepreneurship and ensure self-reliance among the state’s youth.
The center, located in the defunct Technical School, Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Local Government Area, some 8 kilometers from Uyo, the state capital, would offer courses in 10 faculties.
It will also house facilities for major sporting events.
With an area of more than 12.8 hectares, it is expected to house more than 400 students.
The consultant for the project, Mr. Churchill Udoh, had this to say on Wednesday as he led reporters through the center.
He noted that the center would also provide accommodation for refresher courses for high-networkers across the country, adding that the state government has obtained international certification for some of the courses that will be offered.
According to him, international certification includes the City and Guilds of London, as well as the National Board of Technical Education and other relevant trade bodies, including the Nigerian Catering Institute.
He revealed that Lancaster University, University of Lagos and University of Uyo have expressed interest in supporting some of the courses, adding that the 10 faculties would include Civil Technologies, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, ICT, Fashion/Tourism/Hospitality Management. . , Agriculture, Iron and Steel, Carpentry and General Studies.
He said: “The center is built to be self-sufficient six months after it started its activities with the addition of business services to be run by the students, while the short-term and long-term courses to be offered are expected to last between three months . To one year
“From the old technical school, we have added 18 brand new structures, a 1,500-capacity chapel/event center and three surveillance centers with CCTV cameras.
“We also built accommodation for staff, an industrial kitchen and bakery for internal and commercial use, a chicken coop for 45,000 birds, space for 65,000 free-range birds, a ranch to house 4,000 cows and 6,000 other herbivores, and a 60,000-liter water tank to irrigate the areas. food for herbivores,” he explained.
Udoh explained that the idea of the center is to give an opportunity to talented young people who could not go through a formal technical college and also to graduates who could take short-term courses in the different vocational courses and trades that will be offered at the school.
He praised Governor Udom Emmanuel for the project, which he said would also provide the manpower needed for the state government’s industrialization program.
