<\/p>\n
The Family Homes Artisans Skills Training (FAST) Programme provided industry-recognised certification, practical experience, starter toolkits and links to employers in Abuja and Katsina State.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The AfDB supported the initiative with a $1 million grant from the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Family Homes Funds Limited implemented the programme to address shortages of qualified artisans as Nigeria expands housing and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Participants received classroom and practical training in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, painting and tiling.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Abuja, 72 artisans gained experience at the Renewed Hope City housing development before being linked to employment opportunities involving the project and development partners.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The programme later expanded to Katsina, where another 500 people completed intensive technical training. Independent assessments conducted under Nigeria\u2019s National Skills Qualification framework recorded a 98% pass rate. \u201cBefore, I had limited practical experience in electrical installations,\u201d Abuja Engineer and Civil Servant Ansa Umana said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the training, I learned wiring, installation techniques and safety procedures. The skills have given me the confidence to take on more responsibilities at work and pursue opportunities I would previously have avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FAST also provided monthly stipends and trade-specific starter toolkits to help graduates enter professional practice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Women accounted for 94 of the 572 graduates, including 81 participants trained in Katsina. \u201cToday, I can confidently carry out plastering and block work alongside my male colleagues,\u201d Abuja Masonry Graduate Eucharia Onah said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe programme gave me the skills and confidence to succeed and showed me what women can achieve in construction work.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Katsina Carpentry Graduate Sa\u2019idu Rabiu entered the programme without previous experience in the trade.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore, I had never practised carpentry,\u201d Rabiu said. \u201cToday, I can measure, cut and build with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Family Homes Funds Limited is developing a digital database that will connect certified artisans with developers, contractors and other employers across Nigeria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough FAST, hundreds of young Nigerians have moved from training to employment opportunities,\u201d AfDB Acting Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Dr Abdul Kamara said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The programme aims to train approximately 2 000 artisans by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–AfDB\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37383,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[26],"class_list":["post-46688","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"An African Development Bank (AfDB)-backed programme has trained and certified 572 young Nigerians for employment and business opportunities in the country\u2019s expanding construction sector.","published_date":"","news_description":"An African Development Bank (AfDB)-backed programme has trained and certified 572 young Nigerians for employment and business opportunities in the country\u2019s expanding construction sector.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46689,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46688\/revisions\/46689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=46688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}