The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Akwa-Ibom?says it has trained about 2,000 Akwa-Ibom youths in various marketable skills since the beginning of the year.
The State Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Patience Osunkwo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.
She?also disclosed that the directorate had been working hard to ensure that the youth were gainfully employed.
Osunkwo?explained that about 450 youths had been engaged in the NDE/MDG/DRG skills acquisition programme which comprised?of 150 youths and women drawn from each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
”We are training them in these marketable trades such as?welding and fabrication, plumbing, catering, hairdressing, computer operation, and GSM repairs.
“Other areas of skill training included outboard engine maintenance, video production, photography and cane production.“
The coordinator also said that the trainees were been paid a monthly stipend of N5,000 and?that they would complete their six- month training in October.
Osunkwo?also?told NAN that the directorate had trained about 350 youths and women under the skills- on-wheels programme in collaboration with the state and some Local Government Areas.
“On the skills on wheels programme, we have partnered with three Local Government areas in the state.
“This involved moving our mobile training workshop to the rural areas in other to curb urban drift and youth restiveness.
“The two mobile training workshops are well equipped with technical and domestic trade, the local government councils provide the consumables while NDE provide the technical knowhow.’’?
Osunkwo also disclosed that?the rural employment promotion department had?been able to train 200 youths in different agro allied business.
?She, however, said that the trainees for the programme were given one month theoretical training?and?on completion,?were posted to some established farms for practical knowledge.
She?explained that the directorate in the small scale entreprise department programme had disbursed loans worth?N3 million to 150 graduate trainees.
The Coordinator?noted that the NDE in collaboration with the Akwa-Ibom government was working on a programme called Akwa-Ibom State Enterprise Creation and Productivity Programme.
Osunkwo?said that the scheme would engage 1500 youths and women every quarter and would be in partnership with some banks.
She?called on state government, political office holders, companies and well-meaning people in the state to assist in the resettlement of these trainees.
“We need to resettle these youths, we have so many of them in our data bank, when they are settled, and they will become employers of labour.
“This will go a long way in reducing unemployment and crimes in the state, thereby curbing security challenges.”?(NAN)