There is no gainsaying that Kwara State has experienced phenomenal and commendable progress in the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led administration. The education sector is not left out in the major developmental changes that have taken place across the State as the passion of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq towards youths development and empowerment has rekindled the State's commitment to Technical and Vocational Education.

This commitment to Technical and Vocational Education culminated in the Kwara State Government Youth Empowerment and Employment Generation Scheme (YEEGS). The programme which was flagged-off in October, 2021 as a collaborative partnership between the Kwara State Government and the International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) has indeed recorded high success rate and tremendous impact on the youths as well as on the development of the State as a whole.

The programme is designed to promote viable and measurable occupational skills training to increase the effectiveness of the Government efforts to combat youth unemployment and poverty as well as to generate employment and increase entrepreneurship opportunities among the teeming youths in the state. It entails an intensive three months in-center training, followed by a mandatory three-months industrial attachment at the appropriate industry/business.

It is instructive to stress that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, an educationist par excellence, is indeed worthy of commendation for his dogged commitment and unwavering passion towards youths being equipped with various vocational skills that empower them to be entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

Beneficiaries of the KWYEEGS programme are awarded a full scholarship for the 6-months training which entails the following:

Full tuition fee
Monthly stipend of Five Thousand Naira (5,000) each for six months
Personal Protective Equipment
Training consumables and
Start-up package after successful completion of the programme.
Youths are trained in the following trades areas:
Automotive Mechanics
Automotive Mechatronics
Carpentry
Masonry
Plumbing
Electrical Installations and Maintenance
Winding of Electrical Machines
Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Closed Circuit Television and Internet Access Installation
Computer Hardware Repairs and Maintenance
System Security and Networking
Web Application (Design and Development
Computer Appreciation and Desktop Publishing
Welding and Fabrication Technology.
Fashion Designing
Artificial Intelligence, IOT and Robotics Technology
Shoe Making
Cyber-Security and Threat Management
Advanced Technology in Mobile Telephone Repairs
Power Engine Repairs and Maintenance
Graphics Design and Data Management

Since October, 2021 when the programme commenced, IVTEC has successfully trained over 400 youths across the sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (LGA) in two batches of the programme. A third batch of 200 beneficiaries of the KWYEEGS programme is currently undergoing the mandatory industrial training.

In September, 2022, the College launched its portal for registration for the fourth batch of the programme and it is interesting to know that within a few days the College received close to 7000 applications. This, undoubtedly, obviates the fact that the youths in Kwara State are keen on vocational and technical skills acquisition. The selection process for the fourth batch has commenced and successful candidates would be duly contacted.

By the end of the year, the Kwara State Government would have sponsored over 600 beneficiaries in the YEEGS programme across the sixteen (16) Local Government Areas (LGA).

The College authority wishes to inform the general public that IVTEC is set to graduate the first and second batches of the Youths Empowerment and Employment Generation Scheme (KWYEEGS) that have successfully completed their six months of training alongside other students such as the members of the Kwara Artisans Congress sponsored by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and other direct applicants. During the Graduation Ceremony, the Kwara State Government will empower 400 successful beneficiaries of the KWYEEGS Programme with business start-up package to enable them start business in their respective trade areas.

While the College authority applauds His Excellency for this laudable initiative, the Rector wishes to appeal to the State Government to increase the number of the sponsored beneficiaries yearly considering the large turnout of applicants and the enthusiasm of Kwara youths to be trained in various trades available in the College.

A passionate appeal is also made to philanthropists, politicians, industrialists, corporate organizations and all well-meaning Kwarans home and in the diaspora to join efforts with the State Government by sponsoring youths in the various trades at IVTEC in order to reduce unemployment and social vices among our youths and ultimately work together towards the development of an enviable Kwara State.

TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A BETTER KWARA
Signed
Lateef Lawal
REGISTRAR