Participants in the Master Craftsman Training Programme organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, have lauded the Sanwo-Olu administration for scheme,
The training is part of efforts toward realising Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for mass housing and prevention of building collapse in the state.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Kamar Olowoshago, on Aug. 16, flagged off a new phase of the scheme for training of 10,000 artisans.
Mr Pius Kefas, one of the beneficiaries of the Master Craftsman Training Program who spoke, on Friday expressed delight that trainees were being paid stipends for transportation and also fed.
Kefas, who is undergoing carpentry and furniture making training at the Ikorodu division, said he was being paid N5,000 transport allowance every weekend, adding that those who lived far got N7,000.00.
“I was surprised when I was given N5,000 for transportation the first weekend I went for the training. I began to wonder how government can be this caring.
“The training is free, they are feeding us with good food, on top of that, they pay us every weekend. The classes are only on Saturday and Sunday.
“I will set up a big furniture factory when I complete this training because the government promised to give us working tools during graduation,” he told NAN
Prince Adesegun Banjoko, President, National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON), praised Sanwo-Olu for the training, which he noted was important and would help to tackle building collapse.
“One of the causes of building collapse is unskilled labour, that is, engaging quacks instead of professionals,” he said.
Banjoko said he was among the pioneer beneficiaries of the initiative which had increased his knowledge of the construction sector.
He said during his own training, masons were taught details on how things like water quality and soil type could impact building production negatively to cause collapse.
“If every artisan is trained, it will help in ending or reducing building collapse in Nigeria,” he told NAN.
NAN recalls that Olowoshago, during flag off, said the program was one of the governor’s Initiatives to “ensure increase in safe and decent homes for Lagosians”.
Olowoshago said the Sanwo-Olu administration’s partnership with the private sector had increased housing stock while creating over 21,700 direct jobs.
He said the artisans training on electrical installation and maintenance, painting and decoration, plumbing and pipe-fitting, carpentry and furniture making and masonry would bridge skills gap.
The official said this would help in providing capable workforce for developers currently recruiting foreign artisans and also curb building collapse.
He said the training which began on Aug.19, in Ikorodu and Alimosho divisions for six weekends, would have graduates certified by the Nigerian Institute of Building.
He said graduates of the Master Craftsman Training Program would be empowered with work tools in their lines of trade and also captured in a data base where those sourcing for experts could hire them.
The permanent secretary said the level of transparency in the selection of the artisans for the training program was being replicated in allocation of housing units to Lagos residents.
