358 Youth trained in construction equipment operations

The Executive Director of the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Mrs Mawusi Nudekor Awity, has urged NVTI graduates to develop a right attitude towards the work they do.

She said their instructors would give them all the knowledge and skills needed to establish themselves, but “if you do not have the right attitude to work, you cannot succeed.”

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Mrs Awity said that at the maiden graduation of 358 trainees under the Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment (YIEDIE) Project at the NVTI Construction Machinery Mechanics Training Institute (CMMTI) at Burma Camp in Accra.

Global Communities, an international NGO, signed a contract with the CMMTI to train the youth in construction equipment operations.

The training was held in two phases, with the first one (made up of 179 trainees) being held from June 20 to November 11, 2016, while the second one, also with 179 trainees, was held from February 20 to August 18, 2017.

Positive attitude

Mrs Awity told the graduands that a positive attitude and the right values were of utmost importance in the area of entrepreneurship, and, therefore, urged them not to be pompous, disrespectful and always late in their approach to work.

“You must have the spirit of voluntarism. In the spirit of voluntarism, go out there and look out for work in the area you have been trained in. Once you have done some voluntary work in an organisation for about two months, I do not think they would let you go because of your usefulness,” she said.

She said they should also persever in their quest to get jobs and establish themselves.

The Manager of CMMTI, Mr Emmanuel Kotey Ashie, said the institute, which was established in 1974, was waiting for an investor to build a state-of-the-art technical vocational education and training (TVET) complex for it.

He said when the current management took office five years ago, a number of activities, including the offering of systematic training to the youth in employable skills geared towards self-employment and poverty reduction, was initiated.

The institute, he said, had trained over 1,000 artisans who could be found in various automobile companies in the country.

“Trainees are expected to have both institute and industrial workplace experience before completion of the four-year training programme, which leads to the awards of NVTI foundation certificate, Certificate I and II,” he said and added that programmes offered included motor vehicle mechanics, heavy-duty diesel vehicles and auto electricals.

The institute, he said, specialised in automobile, and offered short programmes in earth moving equipment operation, driver mechanics, motor bicycle repairs and vulcanising.

Engine of economic growth

The Project Manager of CMMTI, Rev. Ing. Lambert D. Batogbee, said TVET was the engine of economic growth; hence, the need for more support for the sector.

“We are, therefore, appealing to individuals, NGOs, companies and the government to come to the aid of these youth who are yearning for marketable and employable skill training. Our economic development as a nation needs such craftsmen,” he stated and added that “Ghana needs skilled and competent machine operators if we are to pursue the country’s development agenda of the one-village, one-dam and one-district, one-factory projects.”

YIEDIE is a five -year project to create economic opportunities in Ghana’s construction sector for economically disadvantaged youth, implemented by Global Communities (formerly CHF International) in partnership with Mastercard
Foundation.

YIEDIE will directly reach at least 23,700 youth with training in technical, life and entrepreneurship skills leading to employment.

The project applies an integrated, youth -led market-systems model to improve the capacity of youth and service providers across the value chain. It is training young women and men in technical construction skills and helping youth to grow and start small businesses.

It is also increasing collaboration and support amongst construction sector stakeholders to improve
their enabling environment.