NDE Osun trains youths in transformational skills

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, disclosed that the NDE has rolled out a new set of vocational skills training programme, with emphasis on modern specialised technical, techno cultural crafts and quick fix trades.

The NDE DG made the disclosure in Osogbo, Osun State Capital, while speaking through the NDE State Coordinator, Mr Julius Fakunle, at the orientation and flag off ceremony of the new intake under the NDE “Youths Transformation Training Scheme, Indigenous Techno cultural crafts Scheme and Quick Fix Vocational Skills.”

According to him, the objective of the schemes is to give the unemployed youths, the skills to live, lesrn, and work as productive citizens in a global society as well as to remain in tune with national development through changing social values.

Mallam Fikpo said the new schemes are also fashioned to keep youths abreast of technological advancement and increasing competitive international market.

He emphasised that the selected friendly transformational skill set, such as auto mechanic, auto tronics, GSM repairs, hairdressing and beauty therapy, shoe/leather work, printing/lithography, welding, aluminum work, aircondition/ refrigeration, among others, will be implemented through the use of proficient and competent instructors/trainers in those different vocational and technical trades.

The NDE DG, equally said that under the techno cultural crafts and quick fix schemes, the following trades are available for training, such as, cloth weaving (aso oke), basket/mat weaving, leather work, batik, tie and dye, barbing, small chops, cosmetology/soap making, all aimed at imparting skills on unemployed persons to enable them become proficient enough to earn a living and contribute positively towards the economic growth of the society.

The NDE boss noted with delight that the directorate had transformed the lives of thousands of either to, unemployed persons in the country, noting that some noticeable positive changes, and advancement in the informal sector of the economy are a product of resilience and commitment of some of the NDE trained participants, who are currently self employed and self reliant in their vocational enterprise.

The NDE DG noted that the increasing rate of unemployment, especially among youths is quite worrisome and unacceptable to the government, while emphasising that the key to solving unemployment issue is concerted effort by all the critical stakeholders.