Master crafters, artisans shine: TVET Programme achieves groundbreaking success with first cohort graduation

Stanley Ihedigbo

Research Links and Nerdzfactory, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, are set to graduate the first cohort of trained and vetted artisans and tradesmen under the pioneering Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Program.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 9th at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce Building, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

A unique digital platform aggregating local apprenticeship opportunities will be also launched during this event.

The TVET Program implemented by Research Links and Nerdzfactory supports the elevation of indigenous technical and vocational training for young people and MSMEs through tailored training and business support programs for expert artisans and master crafters.

The program’s core objective is to deepen opportunities for local apprenticeship among young people as well as provide opportunities to support artisans’ businesses, thereby eliminating systemic barriers hindering access to quality apprenticeship opportunities for young trainees, artisans, and tradesmen while encouraging best practices and work policies.

The program component includes the launch of a unique digital platform where trained and vetted craft men and women will be aggregated online for easy public accessibility.

To date, over 200 vetted artisans and tradesmen in three local government areas in Lagos, Ikeja, Ifako Ijaiye, and Agege, have been selected for the program and supported with business development training. The program aims to onboard many more artisans in the coming months, expanding its reach and impact.

Key business areas that the vetted artisans and tradesmen were trained in include digital literacy, operations, and financial management, and good workplace practices.

Speaking on this, Research Links Programs Coordinator, Mrs. Eme Young, said, ‘Our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in implementing this program is dedicated to ultimately supporting more young people – especially young women- access dignified and fulfilling work.

To achieve this, the support provided to the master crafters is highly critical in ensuring the sustainability of their businesses and elevation of opportunities for the provision of quality services to the general public.’

NerdzFactory Director, NerdzFactory, Ade Olowojoba, said ‘local artisans and tradesmen, especially women in the informal sector, are mostly disenfranchised with a lack of opportunities for technical upskilling and reskilling to enable them to compete with their peers in today’s world.

This ultimately affects the quality of their knowledge and the work learned from them by millions of young apprentices in the country.

The average artisan or tradesman trains approximately 2 to 3 young people, especially young women, each year; scaling this program will enable us to provide more tailored support to all participants with expected impact across communities and areas where this intervention will be implemented.’