The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), in collaboration with the Edo State Government, has empowered 500 unemployed youths in the state with starter-packs facilities.
The facilities provided to the youths trained by the ITF included: 150 sewing machines, 142 ovens and cylinders, 50 welding machines and 125 complete computer sets.
Joseph Ari, director-general of ITF, in his address, noted that the ceremony, which marked the end of the second phase of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), was one of the initiatives of the agency to key into the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s policy of job and wealth creation.
“With these pieces of equipment, you will grow to become entrepreneurs and, some of you, God willing, will be employers of labour. But for this to happen, you must be committed and dedicated to your chosen trades and crafts and also show commitment, loyalty and integrity in your business, “Ari said.
He said the initiative was also aimed at ensuring that the majority of youths were meaningfully engaged, sustainably empowered with hands-on skills.
He added that the empowerment of the trainees with starter-up packs was to enable them set up their businesses.
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The ITF boss noted that for Nigeria to be among the 20 most developed countries by year 2050, governments and institutions must do more in terms of skills acquisition.
He, however, announced the commencement of the 2017 NISDP training for 300 unemployed Nigerians in trades and crafts such as welding and fabrication, fashion and garment making as well as plumbing and pipe fitting across the 36 states of the federation.
He disclosed that the number of the trainees under the 2017 phase was reduced from 500 per state to 300 due to budgetary constraints.
Ari further enumerated other skills acquisition programmes initiated by ITF to include passion to profession, the technical skills development project, training on wheels and the women skills empowerment programmes.
In his remark, Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor, commended the agency for its commitment to tackle unemployment through vocational skills.
Obaseki noted that the state government collaborated with the ITF to build the human capacity developments of youths as well as help to grow the economy of the state.
He said the cardinal programmes of his administration was to create over 200,000 jobs through skills acquisition.
“For the beneficiaries, we are going to set up a monitoring team to monitor your progress. Also, we will make available, through the Micro and Medium and Small Scale Enterprises Fund, working capital for you,” he added.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, BENIN
