The National Directorate of Employment on Friday launched Renewed Hope Employment Initiative for 93,731 unskilled and unemployed youths.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that no fewer than 1,130 Gombe youths comprising Persons With Disabilities, women and girls are benefitting from the training.
Speaking at the launch, Director-General of NDE Silas Agara, disclosed that the beneficiaries would be trained across 30 skill sets.
Agara who was represented by Gombe State Coordinator Asmau Mawa, explained 93,731 persons will be trained nationwide, adding that a minimum of 10 persons from each of the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria.
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He noted that they were recruited to benefit in the Directorate’s four core programmes including vocational skills development, small scale enterprises, rural employment promotion and special public works.
Agara said, “Furthermore, various categories of the unskilled and unemployed have been provided for within the framework of the programme such as school leavers, school dropouts, women, graduates of tertiary institutions, retirees and persons with special needs among others.
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“I would like to add that after the training, a good number of the beneficiaries will be resettled into productive entrepreneurial lives through the provision of tools, equipment and startup capital. However, those that we are not able to resettle will be linked with credit granting institutions for further support.”
While restating his drive to ensure that opportunities are equitably distributed Agara added, “NDE under my watch has ensured the adoption of cutting edge technology in the design and execution of this programme. For instance, all applicants registered through our online portal which has enabled us to establish for the first time, a credible database of our beneficiaries. Ladies and gentlemen, in furtherance of the deployment of ICT in our operations. I am delighted to inform you that 40,000 out of the 93,731 persons enrolled in this programme will be receiving training in ICT and digital skills. This is a deliberate step by the NDE in order to equip our youths with emerging skills that will enable them become globally competitive.”
On her part, Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs Asmau Iganus, who was represented by Director of Planning Research and Statistics Bathsheba Samuel called on the beneficiaries to take seriously the opportunity to change their financial situation.
“Show the needed commitment by taking serious the training,” Iganus added.
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Also, Head of Department, Special Public Works Fadah Ahuwai lauded the Director-General of NDE for his efforts, saying that it has repositioned the Directorate for optimised employment creation.
Dr Ishaku Adamu, Gombe State Chairman Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, lauded the Directorate for carrying along his members.
According to him, unlike order organisations that just get facilitators for members’ training without putting into consideration their suitable, “NDE asked us to suggest how we want to be trained. They involved us throughout the planning process of this intervention.”
