Godoma Technical Training Institute (TTI) has launched a plumbing course aimed at boosting skills development among youth in Kilifi County and the wider Coast region.
Speaking during the launch of the six-month course at the institution, Coast Region TVET Director Peter Mwangi said the program would be aligned with blue economy skills to incorporate maritime plumbing works.
“The plumbing course has been designed to integrate Blue Economy training so that trainees can acquire maritime plumbing skills that are relevant to the coastal region,” Mwangi said.
He commended Colleges and Institutes Canada CICan for its continued support through the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training KBEST program, noting that the initiative had equipped the institution with modern plumbing equipment and provided scholarship opportunities for TVET students.
“This support will greatly enhance the capacity of the institution to deliver quality training in plumbing and Blue Economy related skills,” he said.
Mwangi urged youth in Kilifi County and across the country to take advantage of the opportunity and enroll at the institution, saying skills development offered a more sustainable livelihood compared to informal activities such as boda boda operations.
“This institution can comfortably accommodate 3,000 students, but currently we have less than 1,000, which is unfortunate. However, with the collaboration of stakeholders, the NGAO, the area MP, and other partners, we believe we will mobilize more trainees to join the institution,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Colleges and Institutes Canada team leader Greg Sowak, who encouraged young people to invest in skills development as a pathway to self-employment and international job opportunities.
“Skills development is the key to accessing opportunities both locally and abroad, as well as creating self-employment,” Sowak said.
He revealed that KBEST is implementing a Sh45 million program over two and a half years in three institutions: Godoma TTI, Muyeye Vocational Training Centre, and Mapimo Vocational Training Centre, to support youth with internationally competitive skills.
Godoma TTI Chief Principal Sebastian Lidigu called on political leaders to support the institution’s bid to attain national polytechnic status and to sponsor local youth to enroll for training.
“We are hopeful that our political leaders will support the idea of this institution becoming a national polytechnic and sponsor students from the local community to acquire skills that can enable them to work abroad and remit income back home,” Lidigu said.
He noted that in other regions, the NG-CDF program was fully sponsoring hundreds of students, adding that similar support in Kilifi would significantly transform livelihoods.
Lidigu added that the institution had already put in place strategies aimed at inspiring youth to enroll and strengthening its capacity in line with the requirements for national polytechnic status.
By Stephen Mrira
