Nasiru Argungu, the Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), says over 38, 850 youths are currently undergoing various vocational skills development with the NDE across the country.

Argungu made the disclosure on Wednesday in Awka at the orientation for 300 beneficiaries in Anambra.

He said that 11,100 of the youths would be trained in quick-win demand driven skills nation-wide.

According to him, 25,900 of the figure would be trained in cosmetology, 650 in school-on-wheels in only 13 states including Anambra.

“About 1,200 would benefit from the advanced national open apprenticeship scheme in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

The director-general said President Muhammadu Buhari had clearly demonstrated his determination to empower youths through articulated programmes and sustained support.

Argungu said that NDE had concluded plans to undertake basic business refresher course for 185,000 unemployed persons.

“This category of beneficiaries is those wishing to access the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprises investment scheme loans nationwide.

“The directorate will engage 50 persons per state under its Environmental Beautification scheme, while 50 others would be trained under the Sustainable Agricultural Development training scheme,” he added.

He expressed confidence that the upcoming artisans would before long through multiplier effect, create several thousands of jobs, thereby, impacting on the real sector of the economy.

Earlier, the state’s Coordinator of NDE, Mr Eke Iroegbu, said the mandate of the NDE was to design and implement employment promotion programmes meant to tackle mass unemployment.

According to him, such programmes are focused on intervention areas of vocational skills acquisition, entrepreneurial training and labour-based works, among others.

Iroegbu said about 300 participants selected from across the state were being trained in the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS) of the Vocational Skills Development (VSD) Department in the state.

“These intervention programmes and activities will make great impact at the grassroots level by empowering youths, women and the vulnerable groups in the society with requisite self- employment skills.

“The Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme participants will be trained in electrical installation, computer appreciation, interlocking, bead making and hair dressing, among others,” he added. (NAN)

– Nov. 14, 2018 @ 17:32 GMT |