C-STEMP Construction Skills Training & Empowerment Program, was Conceived by J.Hausen Limited based on it's experience of the severe shortage of skilled manpower constraining its operations and that of other real estate developers and building contractors. Spurred by the Construction Ideas fund (CIF) initiated by GEMS 2 and supported by DFID, C-STEmp has a key object to break the paradox of high unemployment and poverty in the midst of severe shortage of skilled manpower in the Nigerian construction sector. Its medium term objective is to spawn a network of training providers that can complement it to build up a critical mass of up to one million trained, assessed and certified artisans. In less than two years of operations, C-STEmp, which was recently registered with the CAC as an independent non-profit making corporate entity, has bagged the following achievements; • Anchored and developed concept and training materials for training of 1,000 artisans by NIOB under SURE-p program • Developed training manuals and DVDs for seven trades; masonry, carpentry, tiling, painting, iron bending, plumbing and electrical installation. • Granted NBTE approval as construction sector training provider. • Coordinated and facilitated commencement of the development of occupational standards in conjunction with NIOB and CORBON • Development of the Occupational Standards for construction trades in collaboration with NBTE, CORBON and NIOB • Adoption by NBTE for Practical/On-the Job training for Assessors. • Establishment of a collaborative platform with NIOB, CORBON and ITF to foster skills development across the nation. • Developed data base of artisans who are on queue for Upskills training, assessment and certification; and in proposed apprenticeship scheme (after appropriate training geared towards this) • Trained or facilitated training of over 1, 500 artisans, master artisans, assessors, and verifiers in line with the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) scheme.