FG committed to equipping young people with skills - NDE

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), says the Federal Government is committed to equipping young people with requisite skills, attitude and work habits.

Mr Chris Bamsida, NDE Coordinator, Nasarawa State, said this on Thursday in Lafia during the orientation ceremony of 50 trainees of the National Open Apprenticeship Scheme ( B-NOAS).

Bamsida explained that the B-NOAS sought to equip unemployed young men and women with the requisite knowledge, skills and behaviour aimed at improving their competency in their chosen skills sets.

“In view of the foregoing, the NDE recognises the importance of apprenticeship scheme as a medium of transfer of functional skills, and on-the-job experience from a mentor, to enhance the employability of a mentee.

“It is deeply rooted in the traditional apprenticeship system practiced in some part of the country which has produced successful entrepreneurs making their marks around the world,” he said.

He said that the requisite skills were the catalyst required for gainful employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

He added that to achieve this mandate, and in pursuit of the aforementioned objective, 50 unemployed youths were selected in technical and vocational skills and would be attached to master trainers in some selected and trending skillsets.

He also said that the choices of these skillsets were deliberate attempt at helping more youths in the state embrace micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which were the heartbeats of the nation’s economy.

“Currently the MSMEs contribute more than 45 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

The state coordinator urged the participants to rededicate themselves to skills and entrepreneurship in their interest and for the overall development of the country.

“To you the participants, this is a clarion call on you to rededicate yourself to skills acquisition and entrepreneurship, so as to join millions of practitioners across the country,” he said.

He called on individuals, organisations and government at various levels to complement NDE’s effort at reducing unemployment in the country.

He further thanked Gov. Abdullahi Sule, for creating the enabling environment for the directorate to thrive in the state.

“I equally appreciate and thank my amiable and indefatigable Director-General, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, for putting Nasarawa State in the spotlight of programme implementation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malam Isa Bello, a member of staff of NDE from the headquarters in Abuja, said that NDE was committed to training youths and other Nigerians in different skills acquisition programmes, to address unemployment and restiveness in the country.

“I want to encourage you the participants to put in your best to succeed and fly high, as NDE encourages skills acquisitions, to enable unemployed youths and others become self-reliant,” he said.

Responding, Miss Mary Sabo-Kuje, a beneficiary, who spoke on behalf other beneficiaries, commended NDE for the gesture and promised to take the training seriously.