NDE advocates implementation of skills acquisition programmes to fix Nigeria’s unemployment debacle

Onome Amuge

Nigeria’s rising unemployment figures can be significantly tackled through the implementation of youth-oriented skill acquisition programmes established, across the country targeted at strengthening the educational qualifications of the populace and fostering their mindsets towards more impactful roles in the society.

This assertion was made by Sani Maiwada, Kaduna State coordinator, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Wednesday during the inauguration and orientation programme of Advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (ANOAS) of 46 trainees from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

According to Maiwada, the programme was an advanced training of the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (BNOAS) where participants would be trained on more than 10 skills including; carpentry, tailoring among others to make them better qualified and independent to overcome employment challenges rather than depending on white collar jobs alone for employment opportunities.

The state coordinator further disclosed that the directorate had begun its Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) in which 100 participants were already undergoing a three-month training, adding that participants would be trained on different theory and practical aspects of agriculture particularly on cow fattening.

“We are lucky to have three programmes and some of our participants may likely get soft loans to either begin or boost their businesses after the training,” he stated.

Maiwada also divulged that the directorate would train 46 participants in its Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) under its special public works department.

Also speaking at the event, Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo,the NDE director-general, who was represented by Joshua Fabgemi, advised participants to pay attention to the training to bolster their goals of becoming entrepreneurs and employers of labour,adding that the training would afford them access to financial institutions such as Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry among others.

“NDE has a lined up settlement scheme, which some of them would be able to benefit from with not less than N100,000 to pursue their businesses,” he assured.