Better days  await  artisans in Kwara State, as Kwara State Polytechnic  has instituted professional training programmes for plumbers, bricklayers, mechanics, among others.

Speaking with Community News in Ilorin, the Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Mas'ud Elelu, said the institution would soon issue certificates and organise a graduation ceremony for the plumbers after the completion of their training.

Elelu, who said the training came up betwwen Saturday and Sunday last week, added that the certificate would assist the artisans to exhibit their educational attainment and professionalism, just as he said that the training would also enable them to prepare job quotation and communicate better with big time clients.

"Plumbing work is changing. When we were young, it was only metallic pipe, but now it is plastic pipe and lots of measurement and calculation. Some of them were not given job in high brow places due to low level of education. They are here to know how to communicate, how to look for job, how to write proposal for big companies. That's what we are doing and they are happy about it," he said.   

He said the institution would organise similar programme for bricklayers and mechanics after the completion of training programme for the plumbers, adding that the artisans would have been better if they had gone through technical colleges.

"Now, we've cleared a large portion of land for block making factory so that our students would learn how to make blocks  in collaboration with professionals.

"We need technical education background. We need to go back to the basics, that is, science and technology, otherwise, we'll be paying lip service