FCTA to youth: Be committed to technological advancement

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged youth to be committed to technological advancement and vocational skills development as the right direction towards job creation and poverty reduction.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Christian Ohaa  gave the advice Monday at the commemoration of World Youth Skills Day, held at the FCT ultramodern youth support centre, Nyanya Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

He was represented by the Director, Tourism Development, FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Mrs Maimuna Kotso who  said academic pursuit, technical and vocational education would provide youths with opportunities to develop their competencies and potential for employment, job creation and poverty reduction.

He stated that FCTA would sustain its commitment to the provision of enabling environment for academic pursuit, technical and vocational skills development to fast-track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He also implored the youth to seek information and always key into the empowerment and entrepreneurship programmes of the federal government.

He said, “The challenges of unemployment and underemployment are the concerns of international, national and other stakeholders in youth development.

“We know that the future of this great country and the FCT is threatened by the growing number of youths who lack prospect of being able to work for a decent living.  The FCTA has committed huge investment to the establishment of Vocational Technical Schools and a lot of Women and Youth Development Centres for the skills development of young women and men. Among them is FCT Ultra-Modern Youth Support Centre in Nyanya.”

The acting Secretary, FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), Mrs Safiya Umar said the wellbeing and development of the youth who are the future leaders of the country was the centerpiece of SDS programmes and projects at all levels of governance.

Represented by the Director, Youth Development Department, SDS, Mrs Hajarat Alayande, Umar said the Secretariat was tirelessly developing strategies to equip youth with necessary skills for a successful life, thereby reducing unemployment and youth restiveness.

“Government desires to move the country to the ‘Next Level’ and youths in particular hold a premium for our development because they are demography of the nation that cannot be left unattended to.

“It is worthy of note to say that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has given a new hope for young people with his various youth friendly programmes focused on employment, wealth creation and job opportunities to significantly reduce the challenges of poverty.”

She said the establishment of the FCT youth support centre since 2013 was a great achievement of the FCTA, adding that the centre had trained over 5,000 youths in various economically viable skills like fashion design, Tiling, Plaster of Paris, Plumbing, Painting, leather works and others.

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