L-R: Moronke Azeez, executive secretary, Lagos State Vocational Education Board (LASVEB), and Feyisola Abiru, managing director, H&Y Furniture Manufacturers Limited, at the company's factory in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Determined to bridge the skills gap in Nigeria’s furniture industry, H&Y Furniture Manufacturers Limited, a leading mass production furniture company, has entered into partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB) to enhance youth capacity in modern furniture manufacturing.
The partnership was unveiled Wednesday during a courtesy visit and facility tour of H&Y Furniture Manufacturers’ state-of-the-art semi-automated factory in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos, led by the Executive Secretary of LASTVEB and other top officials of the board.
Speaking during the visit, Feyisola Abiru, managing director of H&Y Furniture Manufacturers, stressed the need to equip young Nigerians with standardised vocational skills that align with global best practices. She noted that H&Y Woodcraft EPIIC Academy, the company’s training arm, is committed to developing a skilled workforce, integrating modern furniture technology, and instilling core values of Excellence, Partnership, Integrity, Innovation, and Customer Care.
“For Nigeria to achieve its full potential, vocational skills training must be prioritised. Through H&Y Woodcraft EPIIC Academy, we provide hands-on training that empowers young talents with the expertise needed to thrive in the furniture manufacturing industry,” Abiru stated.
Commending the initiative, Moronke Azeez, executive secretary of LASTVEB, lauded H&Y Furniture Manufacturers’ commitment to national socio-economic development through skill acquisition and capacity-building programs. She reaffirmed LASTVEB’s readiness to collaborate with H&Y Woodcraft Academy through its network of technical colleges to further strengthen Nigeria’s skilled workforce in the furniture industry.
“This partnership represents a major step towards advancing technical education, improving youth employability, and positioning Nigeria’s furniture manufacturing industry for global competitiveness,” she said.