Leaders of the Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) have honoured Senator Ede Dafinone for his investment in vocational skills development, describing his sponsorship of scaffolding training for youths in Delta Central as a practical intervention that has created jobs and strengthened the capacity of skilled artisans.
The commendation came during a courtesy visit by the association's Delta State leadership to the Senator, where they presented him with an Award of Recognition for his commitment to skills acquisition and youth empowerment.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Assistant National General Secretary of NAEC, Engn. Craft. Isaac Ehwerherume, said the association visited not to seek assistance but to appreciate Dafinone's deliberate investment in developing employable skills among young people.
He said the scaffolding training had produced immediate results, with several beneficiaries securing employment shortly after completing the programme, while also attracting more youths to engineering crafts.
According to him, the Senator's decision to invest in vocational training rather than conventional empowerment programmes demonstrates a long-term strategy for tackling unemployment through sustainable livelihoods.
Delta State Chairman of the association, Engn. Craft. Atiku Sirajo Abubakar, PhD, noted that despite Nigeria's large youth population, industries still grapple with a shortage of certified technical personnel, forcing many multinational companies to recruit skilled artisans from countries such as India, Pakistan and other parts of Asia and Europe.
He stressed that stronger collaboration between NAEC and Senator Dafinone would help identify critical skills gaps and expand vocational training in line with the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) and National Occupational Standards (NOS) frameworks, thereby producing globally competitive artisans and reducing Nigeria's dependence on foreign technical manpower.
In recognition of his contributions, the association presented Senator Dafinone with an Award of Recognition, describing his commitment to skills development as worthy of emulation by other public office holders.
Responding, Senator Dafinone thanked the association for the honour and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding vocational training opportunities for young people across Delta Central.
He explained that the scaffolding programme was deliberately designed after research identified it as one of the most sought-after technical skills in today's labour market.
"Our goal is to equip young people with practical skills that guarantee employment, not just in Delta State but across Nigeria. We have already trained 100 youths in scaffolding, and the encouraging outcome is that some of them secured jobs within a week of completing the programme," he said.
The Senator disclosed that plans are underway to introduce additional specialised vocational programmes targeted at high-demand sectors, noting that future training exercises would place greater emphasis on selecting genuinely unemployed and committed youths.
Dafinone urged young Nigerians to embrace technical and vocational skills alongside formal education, stressing that the shrinking white-collar job market makes entrepreneurship and specialised skills more critical than ever.
He also encouraged youths, particularly those in rural communities, to explore agriculture as a viable source of income, insisting that practical skills, innovation and self-reliance remain the most sustainable solutions to unemployment.
The NAEC delegation was led by Delta State Chairman, Engn. Craft. Atiku Sirajo Abubakar, PhD, and included Assistant National General Secretary, Engn. Craft. Isaac Ehwerherume; former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Warri Branch), Engr. Benjamin Ozobeme; Delta State Treasurer, Engn. Craft. Munkaila Bebeji; Engn. Craft. Triumph Karewei; Engn. Craft. Gabriel Imoleayo; Engn. Craft. Maude Badamasi; and Prince Zaks Bagaiya.
