Federal government says it has committed the sum of N5.9b on training , tooling and monthly stipends for the Batch C beneficiaries of N- Power Programme in Kano State.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq stated this during the closing ceremony for about 177 youths beneficiaries who underwent training in smart phone repairs and Services under the N-Skills programme, a component of the N-Power programme in Kano State.
The Minister represented by the Special Assistant to the President on N- Skills Dr Nasir Mahmoud said about 16,629 youths were currently benefiting from the programme (under Batch C) in the state while about 18,042 had benefitted in the Batch A and B of the programme.
She warned the N-Skills beneficiaries not to sell starter packs handed over to them after the programme which was well conceived to take them out of unemployment and turn them to employers of labour.
“We have had such experience in the past where beneficiaries engaged in selling of the starter packs, that is unfortunate. Do not sell them as they are meant for your judicious use to take you out of unemployment circle and turn you to employers of labour.”
The Minister noted that the N-Skills programme was based on a certification system and accreditation of practical training provided through the informal apprenticeship System anchored by Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and the formal training system including using the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) in many States.
“The programme aims to improve the quality and relevance of skills delivered using a certification system and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full-time skilled employment, self-employment and/or further their education. It targets marginalized and disadvantaged population, including those with primary or no-formal education.
“The N-Skills accommodates many skills-based enterprises, this Smart Phone Repairs is used to pilot the programme under the N-Power non-graduate component. The programme is designed to train, tool and transition marginalized unemployed youths into the labour market to gainfully be employed. The Ministry worked with technical service providers to provide the N-Skills training services to 6,475 unemployed youths across the Federation.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk maintained that with the successful completion of the in-center training, beneficiaries will be issued a Certificate of Attendance and given a starter pack such as Rework Soldering Station (Soldering Iron), Digital Multimeter, Set of Precision Screwdriver and Repair Tool Kit as well as Magnifying lamp that would enable them to start the smart phone repairs business.
Business Clinics are also being set up in partnership with States and FCT to provide post-training business start-up and entrepreneurship mentoring and support to the beneficiaries of the programme.
“This is consistent with the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years,”
On the N-Power programme, Farouq said,
“The graduate and non-graduate components of the N-Power programme have been expanded to provide job opportunities for 16,629 unemployed youths in Kano State under Batch C, following the successfully exiting of 18,042 youths under Batches A & B.”
One of the beneficiaries Jamilu Alkali commended the Federal Government for the gesture which he said would go a long way to address high rate of unemployment among the youths in the state.
Abdullahi Jalaludeen
