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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employments on Tuesday flagged off the training of 118 youths from the 6 states of the North-East subregion declaring that the best solution to the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is engaging youths in skills acquisition that will take their minds off social vices that can lead them to misbehavior.
The youths will be be engaged in vocational skills and trades to address youth unemployment in that zone and will be set up to be self employed as well as employers of labour after graduating from the center.
While flagging off the training, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige emphasized that the solution to the various acts of insecurity in the country is to encourage youths to be gainfully employed through skills acquisition considering that white-collar jobs are not readily available.
The Minister also stated that the training was part of Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the high rate of unemployment among youths in the country, through the National Training Programme for Youths on Vocational Skills Acquisition/Emerging Trades.
He further said that the training, organized by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, was a nationwide programme to complement the efforts of the federal government in providing jobs for unemployed youths, promote skill development targeting the youths, with the North-East region as one of its beneficiary in the country.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Yarima Peter Tarfa said that the Programme will run for one month, noting that the nationwide training would also provide relevant information, resources and incentives for the development of skills, entrepreneurship and enterprises necessary for national growth.
He said that, “I want to encourage all the participants in this training that the road towards economic emancipation starts with your personal determination to succeed.It is not possible for the federal government to provide jobs for a population of over 10 million in the country, but if every Nigerian can acquire a skill, we have succeeded in reducing poverty by 90 percent in the country”
The Minister added that, “Do not despise small beginnings, you need to be focused and tenacious so that you will be able to employ others to support you in the expansion of your businesses.One of the priorities of the federal government is to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, what we are doing here today is one of the path-way to move Nigerians out of poverty”
He then said that the vocational center will be running four sessions, adding that at the end of the training, starter-packs will be giving to each beneficiary.
Also Speaking, the Director, Skills Development and Certification of the Ministry,Tadi Enoch Yusuf told the participants to ensure that they scored 75 percent attendance, adding that without meeting the specified attendance requirement, they will not be issued certificates at the end of the training.
He also said that the aim of the Programme is to achieve results, pointing out that the participants should give it their best in order to motivate the federal government to do more for youths in the country.
Earlier, the Zonal Director of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment who also oversees the Bauchi Vocational Center, Barrister Amos Johnson, said that the center was running the first set of participants where they will be trained in skills such as carpentery, Hair dressing, cosmetology, electrical installation, leather works, satellite DSTV installation, welding amongst other skills.
Some of the participants who spoke to journalists expressed happiness with the development saying that they were lucky to have been selected to undergo the training which will make them employers of labor.
The participants then promised to be focused on the training as well as the of good behavior during and after the program.
