800 Artisans Complete Professional Skills Training at OPL Academy

Nearly 800 construction technicians were empowered on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of OPL Academy in Ikeja, Lagos, bringing the institution’s total number of graduates to more than 4,500. Among those honoured at the event was scholar-technician Eniola Ibiwoye, who received special recognition for her exceptional achievement during the programme.

The ceremony highlighted a pressing gap in Nigeria’s construction sector: the many skilled artisans; welders, plumbers, electricians, block layers, who build our cities but remain largely invisible in formal records. According to the academy’s CEO, Oare Ehiemua, that invisibility must be addressed.

“The construction industry is powered by blue-collar workers, yet very few are visible,” Mrs. Ehiemua said. “They work informally, unaccounted for in data, while missing opportunities that are rightfully theirs.” Recognising that problem, she added, “We partnered with technical colleges and offered students something revolutionary: a week-long intensive in communication, leadership, resume writing, interview skills and problem-solving.”

The graduates came into the programme as specialists in their trade; welding, plumbing, electrical installation, block laying and mechanical engineering and left, designated as complete professionals, equipped not only with technical expertise but also what Mrs. Ehiemua called “the polish to navigate formal employment.”

“Before this course I was comfortable as a welder, but I didn’t know how to write a proper CV or speak clearly to a potential employer,” said one newly-graduated technician, who asked not to be named. “Now I feel I have a real chance at the jobs I previously thought were out of reach.”

The academy delivered the programme in collaboration with LASTVEB, NBTE and the Ministry of Tertiary Education. Industry professionals were present at the event, sharing insights on issues such as automation in construction, recruitment strategies, and professional standards.

“We need to think beyond just the hands that build; we have to think about the minds and the careers behind them,” remarked one guest speaker at the job-fair that followed the ceremony. The academy also organised a job fair where graduates presented digital portfolios, designed with the help of the tech-platform LaborHack to potential employers including SunFi, Fixit Multiconcept Limited, Knight Frank, Precise Lighting, Monterossa, Etiwa‑Tech and others.

Scholar Eniola Ibiwoye, speaking about her personal journey, said: “When I was selected for the OPL Scholar Programme I didn’t believe I could compete on the same footing as graduates of mainstream universities. But the mentorship, the training and guidance changed my mindset. Now I feel like a leader, not just a technician.”

She added: “My goal is to mentor other young women in technical crafts. I want them to see me and know that this is possible.”

Mrs. Ehiemua, reflecting on the future of the academy and its graduates, said: “This is just the beginning. We aim to continue growing the numbers, but more importantly we want to raise the status of every technician who participates. These are the people who keep the city running. They deserve respect, visibility and opportunity.”

In closing remarks, the programme noted that the effort to formalise the recognition of blue-collar workers moves Nigeria closer to a more inclusive workforce economy. As one industry official put it: “A workforce where every skill counts openly is stronger, fairer and more productive.”