LAGOS -The Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) programme has formally unveiled its exciting new digital platform, myhandwork.ng dedicated to empowering the next generation of skilled artisans and tradesmen.
Speaking at the unveiling of the platform tagged myhandwork.ng in Lagos at the weekend, the Project Coordinator, Mrs Eme Young, explained that the TVET recognises the immense value that skilled artisans bring to communities and the economy.
She said that in a world increasingly dominated by mass produced goods, demand for handcrafted high products had never been greater.
Mrs Young said the programme serves as a platform to cultivate and support the next generation of artisans, ensuring that the rich heritage of traditional craftsmanship is not only celebrated but also carried on into the future.
In addition to the development of artisanal skills, she explained the “TVET programme also provides participants with the knowledge and resources to transform their passion into successful small businesses.
“Through workshop on entrepreneurship, good work practices, financial management and digital training artisans are trained on how to navigate the challenges and opportunities for artisans’ economy.”
At the event, certificates were presented to the first set of trained and vetted artisans and tradesmen under the scheme powered by Research Links and Nerdzfactory, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
Emphasising the relevance of the new platform, Mrs Young said: “The digital platform, myhandwork.ng launched today will connect participants with industry experts, potential investors, and mentors who can offer guidance and support as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey.”
Explaining how the myhandwork.ng would enhance the services of artisans and tradesmen, Mrs. Young stressed: “The platform is life on the internet. It is just for you to search for myhandwork.ng online. If you are an artisan, all you need to do is to sign up whether you are a plumber, hairdresser, fashion designer, mechanic, technician, adire and fabric maker, and others.
“All trades can be handled by the websites. Just sign up for any of them, and showcase your trade as proof that you are qualified. Then, we vet you, know your shop or office, find out who you are, and give you some training before you are fully onboarded and can be seen by those who need your services globally.’’
Corroborating Mrs. Young on the workings of myhandwork.ng, the Project’s Quality Controller, Theodore Nnah, described the platform was a solution provider that connects artisans and tradesmen with people who need their services, adding, “It brings artisans and tradesmen into the platform for easy accessibility of their services.
“In accessing artisans, you could just search who is a plumber in my neighbourhood. If I am in Ikeja for example, the plumbers in my vicinity will show up if they are registered in the platform.”
So far, about 200 artisans had been trained and onboarded into the platform, myhandwork.ng for global visibility. They were presented with certificates during the event.
Several artisans and tradesmen associations and their top representatives were present at the event. They included Mr. Ezekiel Adeboju Abiola, President, Lagos State Shoe Makers Association; Alhaja Okunlola Oluwakemi, Chairperson, Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisan (Mushin LGA); Mr. Anthony Azubuke, General Secretary, Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans, and Mrs. Oguntuyi Ola Helen-Elder, Nigeria Association of Hairdressers, Barbers and Cosmetologists, Agege (Pero branch).
Others are Silas Udoh, former Vice Chairman, Lagos State Shoe Makers Association; Mr. Wale Olashore, Secretary, of Lagos State Shoe Makers Association; Mrs. Hammad Kafayat, Chairperson, Lagos State Tailoring and Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (LASFADAN).
Also at the occasion are Mrs Mogaji Kehinde, Chairperson, Hair Beauty Salon Association (NASCO/ NACAS) Ashafa Zone, Agege; Mrs. Abdulrahim Amudalat, Secretary, Hair Beauty Salon Association (NASCO/NACAS) Ashafa Zone, Agege, among others.
