Promoting Quality Apprenticeship and Skills Acquisition for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

The purpose of this Study was to investigate the apprenticeship and skills acquisition programmes for sustainable national development in Nigeria and how they can be promoted. To facilitate generation of data, the Study explored the following: Vocational skills obtainable at the Skills Acquisition Centers, availability of equipment and facilities, the impact of skills acquisition on national development and the operational challenges of skills acquisition in Nigeria. This study is a descriptive survey. For the purpose of this study, six skills acquisition centers in Benin City, Edo State were used. Target population of the Study consisted of all the apprentices at skills acquisition centers in Edo State while 60 respondents were randomly selected from the skill acquisition centers. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The main instrument used was the questionnaire. The instrument was designed, developed and validated. Data gathered were analyzed using the mean statistics. Findings showed that prominent skills are being acquired by the youths which have significantly helped them in reducing poverty and therefore reduce some societal vices; making the youths self-employed and self-reliant. The study also revealed that the facilities and equipment needed for effective and efficient training at the centers are not adequate while skills acquisition has been found to have significant role in national development which includes job creation, wealth creation, and reduction in human trafficking, youth empowerment, amongst others. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that more skills acquisition centers be opened to accommodate more trainees, stipends should be given to trainees as motivation; government should provide equipment and facilities for the training centers amongst others.