By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Ali Agara, has encouraged 205 youths participating in the Directorate’s Vocational Skill Development Programme in Gombe State to aim at becoming Nigeria’s great future entrepreneurs.
He gave the encouragement through the Gombe State Director of the NDE, Mawa Lamu Asmau, during the orientation programme of the Directorate’s Vocational Skill Development (VSD) schemes under the second Renewed Hope Employment Initiatives held at the Education Resource Centre, Gombe.
Over 20,000 youths had applied online for the programme in Gombe State alone with 414,000 applying same nationwide.
She urged the successful trainees to use the opportunity offered by the training to get knowledge in skills and use it for the jobs they would provide for themselves and others too.
She explained the objectives of the programme saying, “it is to ensure that our youths are equipped with workable skills that will earn them a living, create wealth and enhance self reliance”.
According to her, “It is also to enable you to contribute your quota to the digital economy of the country and avoid reliance on white collar jobs”.
She commended the Inuwa Yahaya led Government in Gombe State, partners and trainers who have always stood by the Gombe State office of the NDE in its activities.
Under the VSD programme the participants are undergoing training on skills such as, electrical installations, GSM repairs, computer operation and maintenance, quick fix skills like perfume and drinks making among others, as well as catering and tailoring under the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS).
The participants of the programme and their numbers are categorised in the following: Community Based Training Scheme (CBTC) 10; Digital Marketing Training Scheme (DMTS) 23; Persons With Disabilities (PWD) 30; Quick Fix Demand Driven Skill (QFDDS) 92; and Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS) 50.
Speaking to our Correspondent shortly after inspecting various training sessions, Dr. Hassan Abdulkarim Abdulhakim, who represented Mr. Christopher Bansida, Director, VSD at the NDE National Headquarters in Abuja, said he was impressed with the commitment, enthusiasm and the mood of the training.
“I have seen the importance that they have attached towards the skills acquisition training. This is because it is now the only alternative to the biting economy”, he opined.
He also advised other youths to acquire skills adding, “even if you’re a graduate with many certificates, it may not guarantee you a job. Skill acquisition is important for self reliance and a means of sustenance”.
End.
