Benin Chamber Seeks Policy To Promote Private Sector Participation

The Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA), has called for the formation of a policy that will enhance private sector participation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Edo.

Mr Austin Atakpu, the President, BENCCIMA, said this at a meeting with representatives of the Edo Board for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) in Benin.

Atakpu said the Organised Private Sector (OPS) was ready to support TVET when a policy that would allow them make inputs was put in place.

“TVET is a programme that covers skills acquisition; and in developing skills, you will require apprenticeship and internship.

“TVET cannot run without the organised private sector. The OPS will house those programmes, give the necessary training and at the end of the day, ensure that the trainees stay through the programme.

“There must be a policy document to enhance such arrangement and the OPS must have a buy in.

“The government and the private sector must be willing to partner together, the OPS will only buy in if they contribute to the policy document,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Terseer Nyulaku, the Acting Executive Secretary, Edo BTVET, said the meeting was to mobilise private sector participation and partnership in TVET.

He said, “We have come to mobilise private sector participation and partnership and this is germane for any Technical and Vocational training to be useful.

“You need the private sector because they are the employers; they are the key social partner in the process.

“We have come to BENCCIMA to solicit for their partnership, especially as we plan to inaugurate the Edo State Technical Talent Development Policy,” he said.