L-R: Marina França Leder, wife of the chief executive officer (CEO) of IHK Giessen-Friedberg Chambers of Commerce; Lai Mohammed, former minister of information and culture; Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development; and Matthias Leder, CEO of the chamber
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) of Giessen-Friedberg has sponsored 18 young Nigerians for a dual vocational training programme in Germany.
Matthias Leder, chief executive officer (CEO) of the chamber, announced the training during a visit to Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, in Abuja.
On October 30, the CIC delegation had announced plans to visit Nigeria in November to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and Germany.
“We have made a competition in which 300 Nigerians participated in a two-stage competition, and we selected the best 18, and they have already started very successfully to learn German,” Leder said.
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“The idea is that they will finish this level of B2, then they will be able to speak fluent German, and they will be able to participate in the dual vocational training together with German students.”
Dual vocational training in Germany is a system blending hands-on company training with theoretical vocational school education.
According to Leder, the selected participants will serve as a pilot group for the scheme in the hospitality industry.
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He added that upon successful implementation of the phase, the chamber will expand the scale and scope of the programme to provide skills training across various sectors with high demand for qualified manpower in Germany.
The CEO said participants will receive combined classroom and practical training, with stipends reaching up to €1000 monthly by the third year.
Leder added that Nigeria’s youthful talent can help bridge Germany’s skilled manpower gap.
In his remarks, the minister of youth development said the federal government has unveiled plans to empower at least seven million Nigerian youths through dual vocational training and digital skills development programmes.
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He also noted that through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), the federal government is strengthening partnerships with German and Nigerian institutions to expand access to training opportunities, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
