NDE engages more unemployed youths in construction employment scheme

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) said it has recently engaged two thousand (2000) youths for training and employment in one of its numerous job creation schemes-the Artisans in Collaboration Construction Employment Scheme (ACCES).

According to the information provided to journalists in Abuja by its Press and Public Relations Department Head, Israel Adekitan, the agency said the recruited participants were drawn from all the States across the Federation, including FCT Abuja and the national grid.

The drectorate further explained that the ratio of the selected number of the participants is 50 persons from every senatorial zones of each State across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, while the rest were obtained from the national grid.

It added that the participants went through mandatory three-month training under major construction firms in the country, and that the graduated trainees would be absorbed by the construction organisations where they were trained or empowered to be self-employed.

Quoting NDE Director General Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, the statement saiid Nigeria is blessed with array of heavy and light construction industries, medium and small sizes with opportunities for the unskilled and semi-skilled unemployed Nigerians to be accommodated for gainful employment.

He noted that Artisans in Collaboration Construction Employment, is a technical Scheme, designed to equip the youths with critical skills required to earn a living in the multifaceted construction industry which include house building, rail, road, bridge construction and the rest.

“Unemployed youths, numbering about 2000 were recruited and attached to construction firms regardless of paper qualification and gender.

“Generally, they have learnt from technical supervision, overseeing the daily activities on the construction sites, planning, managing and tracking the progress on the construction projects,” he said.

The DG further explained that part of what school leavers among the participants would learn include the use of heavy construction equipment, quick fix skills such as fixing and maintenance of door handles, door cylinders, engines, construction and installations of building frameworks including windows, walls and floors etc.

“Graduates of higher learning among them are expected to develop high quality and cutting edge 2D and 3D arts and models from photos and real world objects, utilizing 3D modeling, mapping, texturing, lighting techniques and the rest.

“Among them, we hope to develop Electricians, Plumbers, Glaziers, Painters, Insulation professionals, Solar Photovoltaic Installers and the likes. NDE is synergizing with firms of diverse intent and sizes including the conglomerates to fashion out jobs for the willing Nigerian youths, ” he further added.