Ishk Tolaram Foundation Urges TVET Investment, AI Skills, as 500 Youths Graduate
Funmi Ogundare The Ishk Tolaram Foundation has called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, schools and development partners to build a technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
The Ishk Tolaram Foundation has urged collaboration among government, private sector, schools, and development partners to create a robust TVET ecosystem, addressing youth unemployment and preparing Nigerian youths for the evolving job market. The programme provided hands-on training in fashion, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, HVAC, and solar installation.
The ceremony, themed 'TVET in the Age of AI: Skills, Jobs, and Youth Livelihoods,' emphasized the importance of blending technical competencies with soft skills, practical experience, and entrepreneurship support for competitiveness in the changing labor market.
The foundation awarded 15 graduates business grants, ranging from N100,000 to N1.5 million, to support their businesses after their participation in the accelerator programme and winning the business pitch competition. The foundation also honored outstanding participants with excellence awards. Programme Director Oje Ivagba explained that AI's growing influence on jobs necessitates equipping young people with adaptable skills that would enable them to work alongside emerging technologies.
Ivagba stated that while machines could automate certain tasks, they could not replace human skills such as welding, tailoring, cooking, repair, and designing with a human touch. He noted that the future would favor individuals who could effectively combine technology with practical skills, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities.
The foundation has trained over 2,000 young people, with 70% already employed or running their businesses, and has invested over N20 million in tools for its graduates to establish and expand their businesses.
The six-month vocational skills programme offered by the foundation equips young Nigerians with technical and soft skills, work experience, and start-up support to improve their employability. The initiative provides a 100% scholarship, basic training tools, and PPE, enabling beneficiaries to acquire practical skills without financial barriers. Participants undergo three months of intensive vocational training followed by three months of industrial attachment facilitated through the foundation's TVET partners.
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