PTI Launches TVET Skills Acquisition Programme to Combat Youth Unemployment






 By Wilson Macaulay

EFFURUN — The Petroleum Training Institute has launched a comprehensive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Skills Acquisition Programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment through practical skill development, entrepreneurship training, and workforce readiness.

The programme, which was formally flagged off at the PTI Conference Centre in Effurun, Delta State, brought together government representatives, education stakeholders, industry experts, trainees, and members of the public, all of whom described the initiative as a timely intervention in addressing Nigeria’s growing unemployment challenge.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of PTI, Engr. Samuel Onoji, described the programme as a strategic step in repositioning technical education as a central pillar of national development and youth empowerment.

He explained that the FME-TVET initiative was designed to provide participants with hands-on technical training, workplace discipline, safety culture, quality assurance systems, and practical exposure needed to thrive in modern industries.

According to him, the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education, to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.

Engr. Onoji emphasized that today’s labour market increasingly rewards competence, innovation, and practical problem-solving skills rather than academic certificates alone.

He further disclosed that PTI had successfully trained its first cohort of 200 youths under the programme, a milestone that contributed to the institute’s upgrade to a Grade A Training Centre due to its improved capacity and delivery standards.

He urged trainees to take the opportunity seriously, remain disciplined, and commit fully to the training process, noting that they represent the next generation of skilled professionals in Nigeria’s industrial sector.

Also speaking, the Registrar and Secretary to Council of PTI, Mr. Isaac Fregene, described the initiative as a transformative intervention aimed at reducing unemployment and bridging Nigeria’s critical skills gap.

He noted that technical skills have become the new foundation of economic prosperity, stressing that PTI remains committed to producing job creators rather than job seekers.

“Skill is the new currency of national prosperity,” he stated.

In her remarks, the Acting Chief Coordinator of the Skills Development Academy (SDA), Mrs. Susan E. Oyeleye, emphasized the importance of resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking in achieving long-term success.

She encouraged trainees to remain focused despite challenges, noting that skills acquisition remains one of the most reliable pathways to economic independence.

“The path to success may sometimes be difficult, but with perseverance, there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Also speaking, the Centre Coordinator of the National Skills Qualification Department (NSQD), Engr. Dr. Abubakar Edicha, disclosed that the second cohort of the programme would cover 16 technical skill areas aimed at addressing unemployment across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

He explained that the training structure is designed to produce competent, industry-ready graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to national industrial growth and economic diversification.

Participants at the event commended PTI and the Federal Government for the initiative, describing it as a life-changing opportunity that would empower young Nigerians with practical skills for self-reliance and job creation.

The event featured induction sessions, orientation programmes, technical presentations, and interactive engagements between facilitators and trainees.

Observers noted that the TVET Skills Acquisition Programme is expected to significantly reduce youth unemployment, strengthen Nigeria’s technical workforce, and enhance national productivity in the years ahead.

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