More than 200,000 unemployed youths across the country would benefit from the various training and empowerment programmes of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
The NDE Director-General, Dr. Nasiru Argungu, stated this on Thursday in Gusau at the opening ceremony of the orientation programme for new intakes to NDE programmes.
Argungu, represented by Mr. Muhammad Alhassan, the State Coordinator of the directorate, said the youths would be trained and empowered through various programmes initiated by the directorate.
He said the Federal Government is highly committed to reducing unemployment rate among youths in the country.
The Director-General said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated clear determination to empower youths through articulated programmes and sustained support to the relevant agencies.
Argungu said the effort was in line with the constitutional mandate of the present administration to creat job opportunities to Nigerian youth, as demonstrated in the N-power scheme.
“We are gathered today to launch the orientation course for youths and women to be trained under our Vocational Skills Development (VSD) in Zamfara State.
“Over 200,000 unemployed youths and women would benefit from the programmes nation-wide.
“Eleven Thousand one hundred unemployed youths will be trained in quick-win demand driven skin sets nation wide, 25,900 in cosmetology, while 8,450 from 13 states of the country, 650 each will be trained on school-on-wheel.
“Thirty thousand unemployed youths will be trained on Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme across the 24 states of the country, 1, 200 per state,” he said.
The DG said the directorate had also concluded plans to undertake the Basic Business Refresher Course for 185,000 unemployed persons wishing to access the Central Bank of Nigeria Agri-business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme loan nation-wide.
“We are going to engage 50 persons from each of the 36 states of the country including Abuja, state under our Environmental Beautification Scheme and 50 persons per state under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme,” he added.
Argungu said further that the directorate had recently empowered over 20,000 women across the Six-Geopolitical Zones of the country, who were trained in cosmetology.
“There are also plans to empower over 11, 000 micro businesses with N10,000 each under the Micro Enterprises Enhancement Scheme.
The NDE boss explained that out of the 75,450 unemployed youths to be trained under its various programmes, Zamfara State will have 6,250 beneficiaries.
He commended the Buhari-led administration for its concern and committment in initiating various employment generating programmes.
He urged the trainees to be serious and ensure dedication and determination during the training programmes.
(NAN)
