All over the world, unemployment has become a major headache to many leaders and their governments. In Nigeria, lack of jobs particularly the ones that could be regarded as gainful employment for the teeming youths and even graduates of various tertiary institutions, has defied many solutions. To a large extent too, the development has constituted a security threat.

In Kwara otherwise known as the State of harmony,the situation is not different. Conscious of the enormity of this problem, the state government has decided to take the bull by the horn. The government has taken measures to tackle the hydra headed problem of unemployment and insecurity headlong.

The dream of te government is to create a number of jobs for citizens of the state in such a way that the problem of mass unenployments, crime and criminality would be a thing of the past. To actualise this vision, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed recently laid the foundation of an International Vocational Centre,at Ajase-Ipo,in the Irepodun local government area of the state.The project whose construction is scheduled for completion in the next couple of months, is jointly being executed with the City and Guilds of London.

Highpoint of the ceremony, was the signing of a memorandum of understanding, MoU between the Kwara state government and City and Guilds, London. The MoU is for the training of high flying professionals in various vocations at the International Vocational Centre.

Already, about 200 pioneer students will be trained at the centre by the C and G in the first phase of the collaboration.

Vanguard checks revealed that the partnership would particularly aid the students to be trained and equipped in skills of their interest that would enhance their work and enable them transfer and export their skills to gain economic advantage.

Among the vocational skills to be acquired at the centre are electrical, mechanical, oil and gas, plumbing and construction.

Vanguard checks further revealed that the entire project will cost $65 million over three phases and will take five years

Also, the centre will be supported by three incubation centres where graduates will receive practical, real-life training before going out into the real world.

Interested persons after completing the program, will also receive soft loans to set up their own businesses.

Speaking after signing the MoU with the management of City and Guilds, the Governor lamented that the large scale unemployment in the country is due to the neglect of skills acquisition.

He recalled that,"when the present administration came into office in 2011, we decided to fashion out the way out of unemployment in the bid to reduce employment rate in the state".

"It was on this premise that the International Vocation Centre, Ajase-Ipo was designed and established so as to assist the people to acquire skills in the centre and thereby creating jobs for the members of the public". he said.

Ahmed added that "in order to enable this centre to achieve its desired objective, the state government decided to enter into MoU with the City and Guilds, London so as to provide a platform for the students of the centre to acquire necessary professional and enduring skills in their various chosen vocational attainment".

Continuing, he said: "Since the City and Guilds, London is an internationally acclaimed training organisation, their certificate that will be issued to the students coupled with the acquired training for the students, there will be no problem for the students at the end of their graduation at the centre".

The governor particularly noted that in a bid to drastically reduce the unemployment rate in the state, the government would continue to embark on projects that would add values to the socio-economic well- being of Kwarans.

He urged other stakeholders in the state to continue to partner with the present administration in its untiring efforts to make life more comfortable for the residents.

Landmark projects

The governor added that with various landmark projects and initiatives that have been put in place,his administration would make the desired impact.

Also speaking at the ceremony, C & G's Regional Head of Africa, Mr. Juan Vissser said that the partnership between the state government and his organisation would bench mark quality training of technical graduates and entrepreneurs for the international market.

He said that the interaction between the C&G team and the state government showed high level commitment by the state government to making the centre an international institute. Visser said that his team was excited by the concept, the background and the delivery of the international vocational centre.

He assured the governor that the certificates that would be offered at the centre are "also recognized on many frameworks around the world including the national framework of the United Kingdom". According to him, "the training would be equivalent to what you will get in top notch schools in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Dubai".

He pointed out that Key industries will be served by the International Vocational Centre. Visser also gave the names of courses that would be offered at the International Vocational Centre to include, construction,Vocational & Entreprenueral Development Centre.

While those that would be taught in two years include Fashion & textile, Agriculture and three years program include,Hospitality and catering, Marine engineering & port operation. The programmes that fall under general include Business skills, Marketing, Sales, IT, Entrepreneurship, Business and Finance.

Other skills that have been designed for acquisition at the international vocation centre include Oil & gas, Food & drinks, Electrical,General Manufacturing, Mining and Mineral processing, fashion,hotels and restaurants. Its indeed a matter of time for the residents in kwara to feel the impact of this noble project, provided its clinically executed.But time again will tell.