The Dual Vocational Training Business Summit – COLEACP’s contribution on digitalisation

The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria), in collaboration with GIZ and Don Bosco, held its second Dual Vocational Training Business Summit and Skills Conference in early December. The first summit in 2019 hosted around 150 business and political representatives.

The objective of the 2020 Skills Summit was to continue and deepen the discussion through a focus on the agriculture and health sectors. In the context of the challenges faced during the coronavirus crisis, it also addressed how vocational training can become more resilient through digitalisation.

According to the organisers of the summit, skills acquisition is the ability to be trained on a particular task or function and become expert in it. Skills acquisition programmes can be seen as a tool for economic growth and development, sparking an increase in conversations and awareness around the topic. As global development is working towards self-sufficiency and sustainability, one of the major ways this can be achieved is by having a qualified, skilled workforce.

COLEACP project manager Wester Schepers contributed to the panel discussion on 1 December that addressed the topic “Digitalisation within the Nigerian agricultural sector”. After introducing COLEACP’s activities, insights were shared on how Covid-19 has accelerated the digitalisation of training activities. Under COLEACP programmes, this is done through technical online training for partner horticultural companies, and also through specific digital training on aspects of Covid-19, and training-of-trainers on digital learning. Digital training opportunities are enhanced when the training design is specifically adapted to the intended target group, taking into account access to digital tools, internet, information, etc. Overall, the increased investment in digital training has become an asset for COLEACP and its constituency.

More about the event