The National Social Investment Programme Agency has commenced an eight-day nationwide skills acquisition and vocational training programme aimed at equipping thousands of Nigerian youths with practical skills to tackle unemployment and promote self-reliance.
The programme, which began on Monday, is being conducted simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In Jigawa State, the training was launched at centres in Dutse, Birnin Kudu, Gumel, Hadejia and Ringim, with hundreds of beneficiaries participating in the exercise.
The beneficiaries are being trained in various vocational fields, including electrical installation, welding and fabrication, masonry, baking and confectionery, plumbing, agricultural technology and automobile maintenance.
The agency said the initiative was designed to provide youths with practical and marketable skills that could enable them to become self-employed, establish small businesses and create jobs for others.
The programme also seeks to promote entrepreneurship, reduce dependence on formal employment and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Speaking on the initiative, stakeholders described the training as timely, stressing that skills development remained critical to addressing the growing unemployment and economic challenges confronting young Nigerians.
They expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would acquire the technical knowledge, practical experience and entrepreneurial skills needed to establish sustainable businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The stakeholders further urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and make effective use of the skills and knowledge acquired to become economically productive.
The nationwide exercise is expected to strengthen efforts to equip Nigerian youths with skills capable of improving their economic prospects and contributing to national development.