The Federal Government and the World Bank have reaffirmed their commitment to providing Nigerian youths with practical skills to enhance employment and entrepreneurship. This commitment was reiterated at the commencement of a six-month training program under the IDEAS Project in Gora, Nasarawa state. The program, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank, aims to equip participants with practical, employable, and entrepreneurial skills.
The Chairman of CSS Global Integrated Farm, Professor John-Kennedy Opara, stated that the six-month program would combine theoretical lessons with practical sessions in crop production and animal husbandry. He urged the trainees to be punctual, disciplined, and committed, emphasizing that the objective was not merely to award certificates but to equip participants with skills that would enable them to secure jobs, establish businesses, and contribute to Nigeria's food security and economic development.
Professor Opara explained that the program was designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and practical skills required by employers. The training program is expected to empower participants with the skills and knowledge required to establish their own businesses or secure employment in the agricultural sector. The program's focus on practical skills is expected to address the issue of unemployment among Nigerian youths.
The National Project Coordinator of the IDEAS Project, Blessing Ogwu, noted that the initiative had recorded significant achievements in strengthening technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria. The project had invested in infrastructure, equipment, and human capacity development, with about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors trained and approximately 80,000 Nigerians reached through various training service providers across the country.
Mrs. Ogwu urged the trainees to take the opportunity seriously by attending training sessions regularly, asking questions, practicing their skills, and respecting their instructors and fellow trainees. She reminded them that they were required to maintain at least 65 percent monthly attendance to qualify for the 30,000-naira stipend provided under the program, stressing that regular attendance was essential to acquiring the required practical competence.
Some of the beneficiaries of the training, Falaye Funmilola and Idris Adamu, expressed appreciation for the opportunity, saying the skills acquired had provided them with the requisite knowledge. The training program is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the participants, enabling them to contribute to Nigeria's economic development and food security.
The partnership between the Federal Government and the World Bank aims to address the issue of unemployment among Nigerian youths by providing them with practical skills and entrepreneurial training. The IDEAS Project is a significant initiative that seeks to strengthen technical and vocational education and training in Nigeria, with a focus on empowering youths with the skills and knowledge required to secure employment or establish their own businesses.
Key points
- The program aims to equip participants with practical, employable, and entrepreneurial skills to secure jobs, establish businesses, and contribute to Nigeria's food security and economic development.
- The project had invested in infrastructure, equipment, and human capacity development, with about 4,000 technical teachers and instructors trained and approximately 80,000 Nigerians reached through various training service providers across the country.
- The trainees are required to maintain at least 65 percent monthly attendance to qualify for the 30,000-naira stipend provided under the program.
