Nigerians from different backgrounds have benefitted from a range of vocational training and capacity building courtesy of the German Government in the last few years.Giving this hint recently was the Head of the Delegation German Industry and Commerce, Dr. Marc Lucassen.He spoke in Lagos at a media parley organised by the Nigerian- German Business Association.According to him, the German Government has been involved in various skills acquisition training since December 2012 in collaboration with the German Industry and Commerce including sister institutions like the Giessen-Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and several Nigerian partners specifically in the area dual vocational training partnership (DVT) in Nigeria.The pilot project, he added, is being financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the German development organisation Sequa.Besides, he noted that the element of German dual vocational training were transferred to the Nigerian system whilst focusing on improving the quality of vocational training provided by Nigerian companies, and by theoretical classroom teaching combined with practical training led by a better understanding of work contexts and their applications in the long will yield improved employability of the Nigerian youth, enhance quality and performance of the participating companies and better services of entrepreneurs along the value chain.He further said the implementation was carried out jointly with three Nigerian chambers of commerce from Abuja, Ogun and Lagos respectively as well as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Nigerian German Business Association NGBA.In his opening remarks, the Director-General Nigerian- German Business Association Gbenga Adebija said the dual vocational training was a laudable approach in encouraging manpower in all sectors of the economy to enhance growth and profitability through education.Specifically, he said thus far over 600 apprentices have benefited from vocational training education supported by AHK Nigeria and IHK Giessen Friedberg.Echoing similar sentiments, the Managing Director, Giessen Friedberg Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Mathias Leder said during the six-year project period, 290 apprentices from 125 companies and 310 trainers were trained. 50,800 days of training were carried out and that 95% of the apprentices were eventually taken on by the companies, and the addition success achieved is that the Nigerian government has officially recognised the curricular developed within the framework of the partnership for the following four professions adapted to the Nigerian system, which are industrial electronics, industrial mechanic, technical facility management and office administration.He further stated that from the partners point of view, getting acquainted with the German dual vocational training was one of the most important aspects because today they are as convinced of the respective benefits as they would like to continue with that approach.Speaking in the same vein, Engr. Kehinde Awoyele, the project Coordinator Dual Vocational Training Partnership in Nigeria, said the partnership no doubt has further enhanced the drive of participating companies because they have a selection process which guide the dual vocational training in terms of practical application of skills, and trainers and participants cuts across all facet of the real sector and they have been adequately trained and also well-equipped in their various capacities to industry standard.The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of certificate of trust and award for good cooperation to Nigerian partners by the Giessen-Friedberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
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