Unemployment remains one of the major challenges facing the African continent. Nigeria, with an average population of 190 million and a labour population of about 86 million stands at the top of this statistic. ADEOLA TUKURU reports.
Ideas have been implemented and solutions have been proffered but yet, one that stands out at the center of innovative ideas and solutions to Nigerian unemployment situation is the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), an industrial training skill organized by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The NISDP aims at equipping over 200,000 Nigerians nationwide and 18,000 from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with skills for employability and entrepreneurship to reduce unemployment by linking talents with employers.
At the closing ceremony of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) on Monday in Abuja, the Director General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph N. Ari explained that since it’s inception, the just concluded phase of the programme, which closing ceremony is taking place on Monday commenced in the last quarter of 2019.
According to him, the training lasted between 3 and 6 months, depending on the trade adding that the beneficiaries will be given starter packs to set themselves up in their various businesses.
Over 11,000 beneficiaries
He said in all, over 11,000 Nigerians were equipped with skills in 9 trades namely, Leather Works (Shoe and Bag Making), Welding and Fabrication, Catering and Event Management, Tiling, Production and Laying of Interlock Tiles, Furniture Making, Domestic Electrical Wiring and Installation, Solar Energy Installation, Plumbing and Pipefitting, and Autogelle and Beauty Care.
According to him, in the FCT, 300 youths were trained in Welding and Fabrication, Domestic Electrical Wiring and Installation, Catering and Event Management, Solar Energy Installation and Autogelle and Beauty Care.
He said they believe that given the intensity and the very practical nature of the training, which was 80 percent practical and 20 percent theory, they were equipped with the necessary skills and attitudes for them to thrive as employees or as entrepreneurs.
He said when tied with the trades, which were chosen after careful and in-depth need analysis of their locales, we have no doubt they will thrive, as trades they have learned will always be needed.
ITF’s commitment to skills acquisition
According to him, their commitment to skills acquisition remains the most viable and sustainable solution to rising unemployment and poverty that have continued to defy the best efforts of Governmental and non-Governmental approaches.
“There are countless reasons for us to worry as Government, and as institutions vested with the arduous task of equipping Nigerians with the life skills for employability and entrepreneurship.
“There is no doubt that unemployment has wrought a terrible damage on all facets of our national life. No reasonable analysis will divorce unemployment from the needless incidents of violence that have claimed thousands of lives across the Nation.
“ It will equally be difficult to separate rising criminality and harmful social vices that are being perpetrated by Nigerians because of unemployment and the attendant poverty.
“Consequently, our population that ordinarily should be a resource, may become an albatross if we cannot provide a greater proportion of our population with a source of livelihood.
“It must, however, be noted that President Buhari’s administration has made tremendous effort to create jobs.
“ Federal Government’s efforts to get Nigerians engaged in meaningful economic ventures through various social investment programmes and the numerous skills acquisition programmes being implemented by the ITF and other organisations with similar mandates.
“What the Federal Government is doing is clearly not enough in view of the magnitude of the unemployment confronting us.
Collaboration with stakeholders
He appealed to State Governments, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), Faith-Based Organisations, Politicians and other stakeholders to collaborate with the ITF in our efforts to train Nigerians.
According to him, it could be by way of sponsorship of additional trainees for our various skills programmes, or by buying start-up packs for beneficiaries of the programmes.
Only through such collaborations will the Fund be able to train as many youths to impact the Nigerian environment.
President Buhari’s commitment to Nigerians
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, assured that Mr. President made a commitment to Nigerians that his Government would
lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty to prosperity in 10 years.
The SGF who was represented by the Permanent Secretary on Political Affairs , Andrew David Adejo said the promise was further underscored during the June 12, 2019 Democracy Day address during which President Muhammadu Buhari singled out unemployment, notably youth unemployment, as a proble m that needed to be tackled frontally through diverse interventions such as agricuiture and disbursement of credits to small the National economy.
He said in tackling youth unemployment, the Govemment is building mechanisms and institutionalized processes, especially in the informal sector, that would give the Nigerian youth assurances that their energy and dynamism can and should be
invested in making Nigeria a very productive nation.
He commended the ITF for the wonderful job under the leadership of the Director-General, Sir Joseph Ari.
He said he is aware that the ITF
has trained over 450,000 Nigerians in various skils and trades over the last three and half years, of which the NISDP we are closing today is one of such.
“To ensure that the youths can be provided support to translate the acquired skills to poverty reducing and job creating opportunities, government has also provided avenues to substantially increase access to affordable credits through schemes
such as the N250 illion CBN MSME fund, the Growth Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and developing alternative collateral
programmes for SMEs.
“To further complement these efforts, the Federal Govermment has also
initiated several social investment programmes including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), N-Power and National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) to reduce socio economic problems affecting the most vulnerable groups in our society,” he said .
One the beneficiaries who spoke to Blueprint, Blessing Pius who was trained on Auto-gele and Beauty Care said the One month training was very impactful as she learnt a lot .
Blessing who is also a graduate of the University of Abuja said since she graduated, she has been looking for a white collar job but with the training and the Starter packs, she will utilize it and also train others .
She said she plans to open a beauty shop adding that other unemployed youths shouldn’t wait at home for Government jobs but they should rather develop themselves through skill acquisition programs.
