The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced training of 30 unemployed youth on Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) in Ogun state.
The director general of NDE, Mallam Nuhu Fikpo, at the flag-off ceremony of the scheme in Abeokuta, assured the youth that the programmes design is an appropriate vehicle to implement strategic policy action towards improving employability of the youth.
He stated that the training is also aimed at closing the skill gaps through targeted skills-to-job training, building a competent workforce of technicians and artisans and providing the required incentives for the informal private landscaping service providers to expand opportunities for training the young new entrants into the labour market.
Represented by the Ogun state coordinator, Alao Babatunde Ismail, the DG said EBTS will boost job creation and public work programmes, adding that at the end of the training, the aim of the directorate is that the participants should be able to kick- start their businesses with various skills learnt.
“In order to achieve optimum, effective and qualitative training for the participants, the training will be implemented in two phases viz: an introductory level employability skills training in the class rooms and experiential sharing of learning experiences by transferring hard and soft landscaping skills at competence levels.
“This will be offered through on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring by placement of the participants with experienced trainers, who are private landscaping service providers in the informal sector,” he said.
