Empowerment

FG to train 5m Nigerians annually to curb unemployment, poverty – Presidency

Published

8 months ago

March 13, 2024

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The federal government has outline strategic plan aimed at creating job opportunities for five million Nigerians with various artisanal skills annually.

In the same vein it also also mbarking on the training of 500 inmates in all the Correctional Custodial Centres across the country, even as the beneficiaries will be granted N500,000 to start a business after the training.

Speaking with newsmen, Wednesday in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education, Abiola Arogundade, said the initiative is targeted at reducing down the 133 million Nigerians living below the poverty line.

She explained that the initiative which entails collaboration with various countries, educational and financial institutions in the country would expose beneficiaries to the acquisition of artisanal skills that would not make them self relating but would be a source of earning the country the much sought after foreign exchange.

Arogundade explained that already her outfit has trained no more than 500 inmates in each of the correctional centres spread across the country in line with the objective.
“We’ve also started training in the correctional centres. We launched the scheme in Kuje. We took a few members from my office to the correctional centre to do an audit of the needs of the inmates.
“I’m happy to announce that we started conducting the assessment and auditing of the trainees. And I am happy to announce that every single person that we train there is also going to be certified.

“They will not be left behind. It’s the same curriculum that we have and we are partnering with global bodies to make sure that any skill you acquire in Nigeria is going to be recognised worldwide and we are happy to also announce that we have secured it for every single person in training.

“At the end of their prison term and our training, we give each of the beneficiaries N500,000 to set up their businesses so they don’t become a second-time offender at a correctional centre. This scheme is ongoing.

“So after Kuje Correctional Centre, we are moving to Suleja. We are going to try and duplicate this intervention in all our correctional centres across the country.

“There are two dimensions to the training, we will be training artisans to build and we are going to employ them. We are also training the beneficiaries. “For example, if you are going to be a hairdresser, we train you on how to have the best skills in hairdressing. We empower you with the kiosk. Not only that, the kiosk will have three streams of income.
“You can use the kiosk for your main skill which in this case as I mentioned, will be hairdressing, you can use it for POS business and other ventures.

“So we are partnering with the bank. They will supply the POS and also you can use it to charge phones. We are using that as a multi-purpose intervention for three streams of income which we are launching today and we will be giving it out to the beneficiaries after we train and certify them.

“We also want to announce that we will be starting the programme which we call MYTV videos. Online we told people to send a one-minute video on what their skills are. Once you upload your video, we train you.
“We are happy to announce that we got over 10,000 entries and we are at the stage where we are picking 2000 people to go through the free training. Part of the curriculum of the free training for your assessment is to write a business plan. Those who write a good business plan will be granted N500,000 to continue and upscale their business.

“We are also working with the Bank for Industry. We are working on something called training for Industries.
“Like I said before, our methodology is backward integration, so we are working with the Bank of Industry, to work with the private sector and we are training people to make sure they have the right skills that the industries are looking for. So we have started that assessment as well.

“We have had meetings with different ambassadors. So what we are trying to do is to work with multinationals. Sometimes they complain about our citizens not having the skills.”

Speaking on the idea of introducing compulsory skill acquisition for Secondary School leavers, the presidential aide said: “I am in talks with the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnic, Vocational and Technical Schools and we have being talking on how to introduce one skill for Senior Secondary School so that you come out with one skill and get even get certified. We started doing some research, so it’s something we think it’s important. It’s still work in progress.”

While revealing its collaborations with the Bank for Industry (BoI), Industrial Training Fund (IDF), Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), National Board for Technical Education (NBTC), Private Sector and others, Arogundade revealed an ongoing program tagged “The unlock program” aimed at empowering youths and guiding them on creating commercial and sustainable businesses.

She said: “We told people to send a one-minute video on what their skills are. Once you upload your video, we train you, we are happy to announce that we got over 10,000 entries and we are at the stage where we are picking 2000 people to go through the free training. Part of the curriculum of the free training for your assessment is to write a business plan.
“Those who write a good business plan will be granted N500,000 to continue and upscale their business.”

Empowerment

Again, Obi doles out N60m to educational institutions in Anambra

Published

2 weeks ago

November 11, 2024

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***Canvasses for health, education as keys to poverty eradication

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General elections Peter Obi, has again donated N60 million to two educational institutions in Anambra State.
The effort is to strengthen health and education sectors he considers essential for lifting people out of poverty.
During a visit on Monday, Obi presented N50 million to Peter University in Achina and later donated N10 million to the College of Nursing Sciences in Adazi Nnukwu.
Just on Thursday last week Obi had donated N60m to support local institutions; N50m to the University on the Niger (UNINIGER) in Umunya, the university’s Iyi-Enu campus, to aid its expansion and infrastructure goals.
He also visited the School of Nursing at Iyienu Mission Hospital in Ogidi, where he contributed an additional N10 million to support healthcare training.
Writing on his X-handle on Monday, Obi expressed that the contributions align with his longstanding commitment to fostering a productive Nigeria. “Health and education are the cornerstones of development,” Obi remarked.
“A nation cannot progress without a healthy and educated workforce.” He highlighted the importance of prioritizing the future of Nigeria’s youth, given the country’s predominantly young population.

The donations are part of Obi’s broader vision of building a “New Nigeria” by investing in critical sectors that address poverty and improve citizens’ quality of life. He emphasized that such investments are crucial for creating a nation where citizens can contribute productively to economic growth and development.

Obi also extended gratitude to the proprietors, management, staff, and students of both institutions, commending their dedication to the fields of health and education.
His message of hope and commitment concluded with a reaffirmation of his belief that a “New and Productive Nigeria is Possible.”

Empowerment

Reps member Launches ICT Hub in Ibadan to Promote Digital Literacy

Published

3 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

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Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology, and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, has inaugurated a cutting-edge ICT Hub at Oba Abass Aleshinloye Secondary School in Eleyele, Ibadan. This development, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), aims to boost digital literacy and broaden educational opportunities for students in the area.

The ICT Hub, equipped with modern computers, high-speed internet, and essential software, reflects Hon. Olajide’s vision of a tech-driven Nigeria. Tolu Mustapha, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, highlighted that the facility aligns with the Oyo State Government’s commitment to improving technological access and educational quality, especially within the Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West Federal Constituency.

“This ICT Hub isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s a doorway to new possibilities,” Mustapha stated. “It’s designed to equip our youths with the skills they need to excel in a tech-centric future, fostering a self-sustaining and innovative socio-economic environment.”

The hub will primarily serve students at Oba Abass Aleshinloye Secondary School but is open to neighboring schools, encouraging a collaborative learning environment.
Workshops and training sessions are also planned to maximize the hub’s benefits for students and teachers alike.

By establishing the ICT Hub, Hon. Olajide fulfills a campaign promise and contributes to Nigeria’s journey toward a technology-driven economy. This project, he emphasized, is part of an effort to prepare Nigerian youth for success in a global digital landscape.

Empowerment

Businessman empowers 50 youths, women with strategic business training in Gombe

Published

1 month ago

October 13, 2024

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By Friday Idachaba

A Businessman, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi (Majin Dukku), has sponsored 50 youths and women in strategic business training and empowerment on Agricultural value chain in Livestock, in Dukku Local Government of Gombe State.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the three-day programme which was held at Mohammad Inuwa Yahaya Hall, Dukku, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi said that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from Dukku town and its environs.

He said that the three-day programme was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Zaria in collaboration with AMRAH Farms Nigeria Limited.

The traditional title holder of Majin-Dukku expressed satisfaction with the success of the training programme and charged the participants to put the knowledge acquired into proper use in order to have stable and viable sources of livelihood.

In his remarks, the Community representative, Hon. Abdulkadir Abubakar Alkali, urged the participants to take advantage of the training in finding their way into businesses capable of improving their standard of living.

Hon. Abdulkadir also urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items of empowerment given them as he assured that more empowerment programmes were on the way for the good Dukku people.

Earlier in his address, Dr Ayinla John, representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and NAPRI, commended the facilitator for his support and developmental efforts in the community.

He urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity accorded them to improve their livelihood and wellbeing.

In his remarks, Alhamdullilah Bello A. Tahir, Director, AMRAH Farms Nig. Ltd, represented by Mallam Suberu Ahmed Tijani, urged the beneficiaries to make use of the training programme to develop themselves and become self-reliant.

He expressed optimism that the skills acquired would improve their standard of living as he appealed to the beneficiaries to grow day-old chicks rather than sell them off for quick money as some individuals do.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Class Governor, Bappah Ladan and his Deputy Umukulsum Abubakar thanked the Facilitator and expressed their gratitude.

They attested to the fact that the training exposed them to new ways of enhancing their businesses and appealed to other well-meaning individuals in the society to emulate the Majin-Dukku to initiate laudable projects that make direct impact on the society.

At the end of the training programme, each participant was given a Carton of day old chicks (50), 50 kg feeds, drinkers, feeders, drugs, medication and cash support. (Ends)