By: Joseph Abasi-Abasi, Calabàr
The Cross River State Government has facilitated automatic employment for 20 youths trained under its partnership with Skyrun International (Nig) Home Appliances FZE, as the company admits 40 new trainees under the expanded technical skills acquisition programme.
Governor Bassey Otu disclosed the development on Tuesday through his representative, the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey, during the graduation of the second batch and matriculation of the third batch of trainees in Calabar.
Otu said his administration was committed to moving youth empowerment beyond the distribution of financial assistance and materials to sustainable interventions that equip young people with market-relevant skills and employment opportunities.
He said the partnership with Skyrun demonstrated how collaboration between government and the private sector could bridge the gap between educational qualifications and meaningful employment.
According to him, the administration’s youth development strategy is anchored on training, employment, enterprise and wealth creation.
The governor commended Skyrun for investing in the technical capacity of Cross River youths and pledged that the state government would patronise the company’s products in appreciation of the partnership.
He urged other corporate organisations to emulate the initiative by investing in skills development, technology transfer and employment generation.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Odum-Ijom Ukam said all 20 trainees from the first and second batches had secured automatic employment with Skyrun after successfully completing their training.
Ukam described the 100 per cent employment outcome as evidence of the effectiveness of industry-driven skills development, adding that the success informed the decision to increase the third batch from 20 to 40 trainees.
He said the initiative, known as Skills in the Hands, was designed to equip young people with practical technical competencies and create sustainable employment opportunities.
The commissioner said the programme reflected the state’s commitment to youth empowerment through practical training and strategic partnerships with the private sector.
Speaking, the Chairman of Skyrun International, Chief George Wu said the company had created more than 2,000 jobs in Nigeria, with local employees accounting for over 95 per cent of its workforce.
He said the company, which had operated in Nigeria for more than 20 years, had invested in manufacturing facilities for air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and other home appliances, with an annual production capacity of 500,000 units.
He explained that the Skills in the Hands initiative was established in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Cross River State Government to provide practical training in home appliance manufacturing, equipment maintenance and other technical fields.
The chairman disclosed that two outstanding participants would shortly travel to China for further training, adding that the company remained committed to developing local technical manpower and strengthening its manufacturing operations in Nigeria.
He said Skyrun’s approach was based on local production, local employment, local operation and local services, stressing that the company was interested in building lasting relationships with its host communities.
In his remarks, the team leader of the graduating second batch, Isamoh Igaja, expressed appreciation to the state government and Skyrun for providing the trainees with the opportunity to acquire practical skills.
Igaja said the six-month intensive training exposed participants to refrigerator and air-conditioner repairs, the use of chemicals and other technical aspects of appliance maintenance.
He described the experience as rewarding, noting that the skills acquired would enable beneficiaries either to secure employment with Skyrun or establish their own businesses.
He said the first batch had already commenced work with the company, expressing delight that members of the second batch following their graduation have also secure employment.
The ceremony featured the graduation of the second batch, matriculation of the expanded third batch and presentation of certificates and employment letters to successful trainees.
