GIZ, EU collaborate to re-train artisans in Plateau state

This Day reports that against the backdrop of incidents of collapsed building and other mishaps in recent times resulting from shoddy construction jobs by untrained artisans, gesellschaft für internationale zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and European Union (EU) have begun re-training of artisans in Plateau state, to adequately equipping them to deliver optimally on their jobs.

Graduating the first batch of 160 trainees, who were given certificates and complete safety kits, the team leader for Value Chain Development, GIZ, Mr. Chistoph Pannhausen said the training became important not only to ensure that artisans were at home with their job lines, but also to deepen economic development for peace and stability in Plateau.

Artisans Job Centre portal was equally lunched at the occasion to enable clients that desire quality jobs have easy access to the re-trained artisans.

Lauding the efforts of GIZ, the Plateau state government disclosed that it was working towards engaging only re-trained artisans to execute its construction projects to avoid rampant incidents of collapsed building structures in the state.

Governor Simon Lalong, who was represented by the Director General of the state Microfinance Development Agency, Mr. Haggai Haruna Gutap, recognised GIZ immense contributions to the development of the state, adding that the state will continue to partner GIZ and EU in their undertakings.

While presenting certificates to the artisans, the Governor urged them to apply the right attitude to the knowledge they acquired from the training, and reiterated that “the trained artisans should be in the first line of government consideration in its choice of engagements in the execution of projects in the state.

Also contributing, state coordinator of EU Project-2, Mrs. Hauwa Mankilik said the training was also a way of diversifying the economy of the state as clients from the state would no longer have go outside to engage competent hands.

The Job Centre portal operator, Mr. Everest Miri, said the portal and office would afford clients the opportunity to get and engage only re-trained and tested artisans, who can deliver quality jobs within expected time frame.
Leaders of the Nigerian Institute of Architecture (NIA) and Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), and indeed the resource Architects and Builders that trained the artisans were all on ground to identify with the laudable job done by the GIZ.

Meanwhile, APIN Public Health Initiatives donated 35 computers and their accessories to 16 different hospitals in Plateau state to enable them collect and keep adequate data for medical records.
This is even as the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr. William Stuart Symington has commended the feat recorded by APIN in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention.

The materials distributed were received on behalf of the state government by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kuden Kamshak, who applauded APIN for always supporting the state’s health facilities. The hospitals that benefitted include general Hospitals, Mangu, Shendams, Faith Alive Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Solat Women Hospital, and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

In his remarks on the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of APIN, Dr. Prosper Okonkwo, who was represented by Head of Office, APIN Office Jos, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ibilibor, said the relationship between APIN and the State Ministry of Health has been very cordial, adding that the staff of APIN are always at home whenever they have something to bring them together.

Okonkwo said the materials donated are to strengthen what were already on ground, noting that they were donating the equipment to support better management and proper data collection.

The Chief Medical Director of Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Yamma Dakwak, who gave the vote of thanks, said APIN has been in the forefront of providing facilities to health institutions in the state, urging it not to restrain its training to itself but to include health staff from the state.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador, who visited the APIN office at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), commended the feat recorded by the hospital in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention. Symington gave the commendation after an interaction with stakeholders and an on-the-spot assessment of facilities at the APIN office, JUTH.

Source: This Day