There is no gainsaying in the fact there are very few women involved in technical works in Nigeria, most importantly in the aspect of construction and agriculture. Nigerian society perceives technical and vocational works as being tedious and hence reserved for the men. There is a need to change the perception of many and showcase women, who are competing favourably with their male counterpart in such jobs.
SKYE is tackling these challenges by strategically organising sensitisation workshops to promote girl’s and women’s active involvement in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). To this end, SKYE’s advocacy workshop on “Promoting Girls and Women in Skills Acquisition” which was held on 3 July 2019 in Abeokuta, Ogun State involved secondary school girls and female youth Corp members to take part in the workshop aimed at awakening their interest in TVET by exposing them to the knowledge of TVET, and its benefits to them and the society at large.
The advocacy workshop involved women who are successful in TVET showcasing their skills and sharing their experiences to motivate girls and women in attendance. These women include Engineer Bello Ayodolapo (working in construction), Agriculturist Dr Mrs Lasode (a successful farmer), the certified plumber Mrs Afuwape Zainab and painter Mrs Yusuf Moyosore, amongst others.
Sequel to the sensitisation workshop, it has been observed that there is an increase in the number of female participants in the new training in the use of power tools under the Technical Training in Construction, Agriculture and Automobile industries (TTCAA) project. A youth Corp member, Jolaosho Omotayo, who participated at the sensitisation workshop said “in my life, I have never thought there could be a female painter but seeing Mrs Yusuf Moyosore, I realize that my own dream of becoming a successful painter can become a reality”.
While the misconception about TVET and the involvement of girls and women in male dominated jobs gradually seem to be fading away, SKYE will continue to encourage more female to be involved in TVET especially in the area of construction, agriculture and in the occupational field of industrial mechanics.
