The Nigerian government says it has commenced the training of youths and unemployed in the South-east zone of the country.
The youths are receiving training in various Skills as an alternative to white collar jobs.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, while flagging off the training in Owerri, Imo State capital, noted that Skills education would equip them with self-employment and self-reliant skills that would serve them for life as well as boost the socio-economic status of the youths.
In his words, “this is one of the ways that government wants to remove youths from poverty, and social discontent, and give them a new lease of life”.
According to the Minister, with the skills acquired, the beneficiaries would not only be self-employed, but would also generate employment for others, as well as spread the knowledge through training others.
He said that once the training, which is a nationwide skill development programme targeting the youth has been done in all the zones, it would also be carried out in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He noted that the acquisition of certain skills would boost the chances of Nigerians at jobs that other nationals were currently monopolizing in the country.
At the end of the training, Government would empower the participants with the necessary kits for the various skills they trained in.
The Minister said the trainees would be graded by points and would progress from Stages One to Four, where they would be issued with the Trade Test Certificate, which is also graded Three (3), Two (2), and One (1), which is the highest.
He said that the Trade Test Certificate 1 (one) qualified the holder to work in other countries as resident aliens, and be exported by the Federal Government through regular channels.
“This is the beginning. We will organise many more, and as we organise them, we will be giving you points and grading you through stages 1 to 4, where you get your certificate”, Ngige said.
The federal government said it would in time enlarge the current curricular of the programme to other areas such as processing of agricultural produce, which would not only create food security, but would also produce various other consumables.
Skill Acquisition training programme, which is a specialised training, had been going on concurrently with the regular training by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), government’s employment Agency.
“The main thing you gain from us is the knowledge, and that you’re being trained to fish for yourself….”, he said.
The Minister believes that degree holders could also acquire the Skills Certificate in addition, as it would place them on a higher pedestal, adding that one could combine a white collar job with a blue collar one.
“This is a golden opportunity for you to add to the paper certificate you already have”, Ngige said.
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