ACCIF, Begins Vocational Training For 61 ‘Hard of Hearing’ Students in Kaduna
….. Advocates for Link Between Formal and Vocational Education
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
Worried about the low level of skilled persons living with disabilities in Nigeria, the All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF), has advocates for a stronger link between formal and vocational education.
ACCIF, Executive Director, Barr. Ranti Daudu, Made the call at the weekend, during commissioning and orientation ceremony for vocational training of sixty one (61), ‘Hard of Hearing’ students of Government Technical College, Malali, Kaduna, funded by TY Danjuma Foundation.
The project which will last for eight months, is aimed at providing comprehensive practical training in shoe-making, tailoring and business management skills for the students comprising boys and girls.
“The skills training seeks to respond to new and pressing challenges of the of hearing students of the noble college, and I believe it can make a difference.
“In Nigeria today, a handful of number of employers say they can’t find people living with disabilities with the right skills, we need to forge stronger links between the world of formal education and vocational work.
“I wish to thank TY Danjuma Foundation for not just enlisting ACCIF for its 2017 project grant circle, but giving the highest grant this year. We promise not to fail or misuse the funds entrusted to us.” Ranti said.
She also disclosed that, apart from the training which will be mainly shoe making and tailoring, startup equipments are also going to be provided for the beneficiaries and that best performing and behaving students will also be rewarded.
On his part, Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, who was represented by a director in the ministry, John Kantiok, disclosed that the state government already has a policy that made education and free feeding compulsory for people with disabilities.
According to him, the policy has since been submitted to the federal government as a recommendation for implementation in the entire country so as to take every person living with disability off the streets.
He commended ACCIF for their contribution in reshaping the lives of special persons in the state. adding that because of ACCIF’s efforts beggars has drastically reduced in the streets of Kaduna. He pledged the state government commitment to monitoring and evaluating the training project so the government can find a way for it sustainability.
Also speaking, representative of TY Danjuma Foundation, Gima Foge, noted that ACCIF as a partner with TYDF has shown integrity since 2010, and funding for the project is a continuation of their support for ACCIF.
“We are particularly happy to be in a school that is facing the challenge of funding and ACCIF recognised that and contacted the foundation and that is why we are here. He added.
Some of the beneficiaries of ACCIF in some of its previous project, who spoke encouraged the students not to give up in whatever they do.
They advised them to be focused, honest and be truthful to their clients whenever they are done with their training and are out on their own so they can prove to the world that there is ability in disability.
34 girls and 27 boy are taking part in the training programme out of which 3 girls has shown interest in shoe-making.
