The Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) has honoured the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, for his commitment to vocational skills development and youth empowerment through technical training initiatives.
The recognition was presented during a courtesy visit by the association’s Delta State leadership, who described the senator’s sponsorship of scaffolding training for youths across Delta Central as a practical intervention that is creating employment opportunities and strengthening the capacity of skilled artisans.
Presenting the Award of Recognition, the Assistant National General Secretary of NAEC, Engn. Craft. Isaac Ehwerherume, said the association’s visit was to appreciate Senator Dafinone’s deliberate investment in developing employable skills among young people rather than to seek assistance.
According to him, the scaffolding training programme has yielded positive results, with several beneficiaries securing employment shortly after completing the course while inspiring more young people to pursue careers in engineering crafts.
Ehwerherume noted that the senator’s focus on vocational skills acquisition reflects a sustainable approach to addressing youth unemployment by equipping beneficiaries with practical competencies that are in high demand.
Also speaking, the Delta State Chairman of NAEC, Engn. Craft. Atiku Sirajo Abubakar, PhD, said Nigeria continues to face a shortage of certified technical personnel despite its large youth population, forcing many multinational companies to recruit skilled artisans from countries such as India, Pakistan and other parts of Asia and Europe.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between NAEC and Senator Dafinone would help bridge critical skills gaps through expanded vocational training programmes aligned with the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) and National Occupational Standards (NOS) frameworks. According to him, such collaboration would produce globally competitive artisans while reducing the country’s dependence on foreign technical manpower.
In recognition of his contributions to skills development, the association presented Senator Dafinone with an Award of Recognition, describing his efforts as exemplary and worthy of emulation by other public office holders.
Responding, Senator Dafinone expressed appreciation to the association for the honour and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding vocational training opportunities for young people across Delta Central.
He explained that the scaffolding training programme was introduced after research identified it as one of the most sought-after technical skills in today’s labour market.
“Our objective is to equip young people with practical skills that guarantee employment, not only in Delta State but across Nigeria. We have already trained 100 youths in scaffolding, and some of them secured jobs within a week of completing the programme,” the senator said.
Dafinone disclosed that plans are underway to introduce additional specialised vocational training programmes in other high-demand sectors. He added that future training exercises would place greater emphasis on selecting genuinely unemployed and committed youths to maximise the programme’s impact.
He also urged young Nigerians to embrace technical and vocational education alongside formal academic qualifications, noting that specialised skills, entrepreneurship and innovation have become increasingly important in the face of shrinking white-collar employment opportunities.
The senator further encouraged youths, particularly those in rural communities, to explore agriculture and other productive ventures, maintaining that practical skills and self-reliance remain the most sustainable pathways to economic empowerment and job creation.
The NAEC delegation was led by the Delta State Chairman, Engn. Craft. Atiku Sirajo Abubakar, PhD, and included Assistant National General Secretary, Engn. Craft. Isaac Ehwerherume; former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Warri Branch), Engr. Benjamin Ozobeme; Delta State Treasurer, Engn. Craft. Munkaila Bebeji; Engn. Craft. Triumph Karewei; Engn. Craft. Gabriel Imoleayo; Engn. Craft. Maude Badamasi; and Prince Zaks Bagaiya.
