International Labour organization plans to engage the Nigerian government, workers’ unions, and social partners to address the issue of migrants obtaining trade test certifications, enabling them to secure jobs with ease when travelling abroad.
According to The Punch, the ILO Project Coordinator, Celestine Okeke, made this known during a communication and visibility programme in Lagos that focused on ways migrants can quickly reintegrate into society and find employment.
Okeke emphasized that the trade test, which is widely recognized for skill certification, is critical in assisting migrants in obtaining employment when they travel abroad.
In his words, “When a person migrates out of the country safely, he can find a job. It is when he finds a job that he can contribute to the economy of the country he is going to and returning to.”
It was reported that he advised Nigerians who are considering migration to use the Migration Resource Centre to obtain precise details about the necessary qualifications required in the country they intend to relocate to.
“During irregular routines, it is common to find people without formal education or degrees migrating for work. However, even those with degrees often struggle to adapt to foreign work systems. Possession of a trade test certificate can facilitate obtaining jobs overseas, even for those with limited education,” he added.
The Programme Director of Patriotic Citizen Initiatives, Osita Osemene, revealed that the ILO wants to ensure that the reintegration process is comprehensive and considers all factors involved, rather than just one aspect.
According to the report, he emphasized the need for all stakeholders to work together to achieve a sustainable approach and recognize their areas of strength towards a shared goal.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Director of the National Directorate of Employment, Mary Ndirapaya, proposed the establishment of a regulatory agency that would provide a platform for individuals in both the informal and formal sectors to acquire the National Board Technical certification to enhance their educational qualifications.
Ndirapaya expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation where numerous organizations introduce various certification programs, and she argued that no single institution in Nigeria can provide all the necessary skills training due to the country’s vast population.
The Head of the Skills Development and Certification Department at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Tiza Shaakaa, observed that the trade test is a qualification in the informal sector.
In his words, “Trade test is at the international level while the formal sector is UNESCO. They handle formal education. That is why AUC and MBT are controlled by the Federal Ministry of Education, while we regulate apprenticeships.
“CAP 198, sections 49 to 53 give us authority to regulate, control, enforce the standard, attest and certify apprenticeship in Nigeria and that is what is applied to all other countries.”
