Over 1,400 unskilled youths in Nasarawa state are currently benefiting from the federal government’s Renewed Hope Employment Initiative Programme.
Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr. Silas Ali Agara, stated this during the flag off of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative by the NDE in collaboration with the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation at the weekend on Friday, in Lafia
” 10 unemployed persons from each of 147 wards of the 13 LGA of Nasarawa state.
“1,470 indigenes of the state will be lifted from the labour market, trained and empowered in Vocational Skills, entrepreneur skills development and activities in the special public sector of the state economy,” he said
Mr. Agara, represented by the NDE Nasarawa state coordinator, Mr. Fagbemi Joshua, announced that 93,731 unskilled youths from across 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory have been registered under the initiative.
Highlighting the programme’s inclusive design, he said 10 unskilled and unemployed youths were selected from each of the 8,809 electoral wards nationwide to undergo training in 30 skill areas, ranging from vocational skills development to Special Public Works.
On his part, the Nasarawa state coordinator of NDE, Fagbemi Joshua Sunday, represented by Mr. Hassan Shuaibu Gimba, the NDE Head of Small Scale Enterprises in the state, said the event was the directorate’s strategy to actualize her vision of “Jobs for all” in Nasarawa state and the country at large.
The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi rtd. represented by the Ubangarin Lafia, Usman Baba, stressed the importance of sustainable youth engagement programmes to curb crime and idleness in communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Christopher Agbo, described the initiative as a transformative opportunity, calling it a life-changing intervention.
The three-month training programme is expected to conclude with the distribution of start-up packages to the beneficiaries, enabling them to establish businesses and sustain their livelihoods
