By Ogaga Ariemu
The federal government, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, said it has trained over 1100 youths nationwide on various vocational skills to reduce the high rate of unemployment.
The Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Bashir Gwandu disclosed this in a statement on Saturday by the agency’s Director Information & Protocol, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan.
This development is coming on the heels of five days of training for 100 youths across different local government areas in Kwara state on self-reliance.
It was learnt that NASENI had previously conducted similar training across 11 states in Nigeria.
The training centred around electrical installations and maintenance, modern auto-mechanics and diagnostics, solar installations and maintenance, modern tailoring and installations of Plaster of Paris, popularly known as POP.
“Modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance and skill development workshop was significant because it marked the second of its kind in the North Central Geo-political Zone by NASENI, and it was part of the series of directives from His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to NASENI to build the capacity of young people in modern electrical installations and maintenance amongst other vocations and professions.
“Our aim is to ensure that our teeming youths develop modern skills in electrical installations and maintenance required for the creation of jobs and self-employment generation.”
Gwandu represented at the occasion by the Coordinating Director, Planning & Business Development, Nonyem Onyechi said the agency will not relent in its infrastructural development.
The Chief of Staff to President, Prof Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, while declaring the training to a close said president Muhammadu Buhari Administration’s concern in the last eight years was to build the capacity of youths and to empower them mentally and skills upgrade as a way of preparing them for the future.
Gambari represented by Engr. Yahya Alapansanpa, Chairman, Governing Board of Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) said: “The policy of the Federal Government is to increase the capacity and competence of the youths and the country’s workforce to be able to compete with their contemporaries within and outside the country.”
