Bayelsa State government is partnering the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) on the training of 492 youths across the state on skills acquisition, as part of efforts to empower the youth, women and other vulnerable groups.
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, Gboribiogha John Jonah, said this in Yenagoa at the flag off of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).
Dickson stated that the programme had the “potential to combat spiralling unemployment and support the present administration’s policy on diversification of the nation’s economy and job creation through and infusion of qualified Nigerians with the requisite technical skills.â€
He enjoined other stakeholders including governments at all levels, the organised private sector and non-governmental organisations to lend support to the programme as it can reduce joblessness and increase the number of entrepreneurs.
According to Dickson, the engagement of the youth in meaningful ventures is a key driver of his administration’s desire for a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for development to thrive, as it will reduce restiveness and other social ills.
The governor assured the ITF of collaboration in the drive to empower the youth, saying, “We are equally open to positive collaborations that will empower our women and youths with vocational skills.â€
He urged the beneficiaries of the programme to conduct themselves in the best manners as ambassadors of the state and implored them to give the training their best as they are taking a step into greatness.
In his address, ITF director-general, Joseph Ari, who was represented by the Yenagoa area manager, said in spite of the number of jobless Nigerians, surveys show that vacancies exist in some sectors of the economy that were being filled by foreigners due to lack of requisite skills by Nigerians.
Ari disclosed that the NISDP was conceived to bridge the gap and that the programme had so far trained 84,100 Nigerians in over 30 trades and the present phase was expected to train 9,000 more between the ages of 18 and 35 years.
Earlier, Abdulrazak Adeniron, who represented the Yenagoa area manager, said orientation started on March 1, for the three-month programme that would train the youth in garment making, poultry farming, snail farming, GSM repairs, and aluminium fabrication.
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