by By Admin
In pursuance of the industrialisation agenda coupled with the pressing need to create employment avenues for the youthful population in the state and sub-region, the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prof (Sir) Ben Ayade, last January, established the Construction and Fabrication Academy of West Africa.
The three-structured edifice, which has a combined collection of 140 rooms, located along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, is designed to accommodate a variety of skilled courses for creative and vocational training in various areas of interests for wealth creation.
The facility will play host to a total of 54 highly practical, industry related courses specifically drawn from the sciences, arts and mechanical fields and anchored in the creative industry. The variety of choices to make from will include POP works technology, visual arts & design, conduit wiring, civil engineering/Mason works, electrical fabrication, scaffolding, interior decoration, physical planning, event management and catering services, hat and beads making, fashion design, bakery and confectionery, metal works, furniture/upholstery, shoe making, truck mechanic training, tiling, driving, alumaco/aluminum making, phone/computer repairs amongst others when fully delivered.
Other special training will include e-commerce, information marketing and other online learning programs and a number of others.
Disclosing the project, Commissioner for Youth & Skills Acquisition, Hon. (Signor) Omang Idiege intimated the project is a brainchild of Governor Ben Ayade, initiated to address skilled acquisition concerns in the state and will admit trainees across Nigeria and the West African sub-region due to its vast collection of programs.
Expatriates will be brought in to liaise with local resource persons to train students after which graduates will proceed to receive soft credit facilities to further their causes. Depending on the area of specialization, training sessions will last between six months and two years, after which graduands will be awarded certificates or diplomas as the case may be and recommended to higher areas of endeavor.
To ensure sustainability, the center is backed by an executive bill which has already been transmitted to the state Assembly. This is to give the citadel legality in line with best practices.
The facility will accommodate several departments coordinating the various organs, some of which are the Department of Vocational Training, Department of Metallurgy and the Department of Forensic Studies. The project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and west Africa.
©Eugene Upah is the Snr Special Assistant on Public Communications to Cross River Governor Ben Ayade.
info@eugene-ssapc.com.ng
