By NAN
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has commenced the training of 37 Master Trainers for the N-Skills programme to address unemployment deficiency in the country.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, in her keynote address to declare the training open on Friday in Abuja said the programme lift over 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
According to her, President Muhammadu Buhari has since 2015 paid more attention to alleviating the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country.
“The Smart Phone Repairs is used to pilot the N-Skills programme. It is consistent with the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The programme is designed to kit/tool unemployed youths and develop their competences to become gainfully employed.
“This training targets Master Trainers that would coordinate the training of 6,475 youths selected from the 36 states and the FCT.
“They are expected to meet and coordinate the training of 175 youths from each of the 36 states and the FCT to meet the minimum technical and business requirements for certification by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“This is to enhance their entrepreneurial competences to successfully start and manage smart phone repairs and servicing businesses. Upon completion of the training, the target beneficiaries would be provided with a Start-up Kits,” Farouq said.
According to her, the N-Skill Programme is an expansion of the National Social Investment Programme(NSIP), a federal government’s flagship programme implemented to advance its social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda..
She, however, explained that the NSIP was one the largest social protection programmes in Africa with about one billion dollars earmarked annually to cause positive change in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country.
“Since its introduction in 2016, the NSIP has impacted positively on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria.
“In furtherance to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the restructuring of NSIP and in line with the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), we instituted processes to revamp the NSIP and to make it more impactful on the economy and citizens as we expand it.
“This led to the introduction of the N-Skills programme, which is based on a certification system and accreditation of training provided through the informal apprenticeship System anchored by Master Craft Persons and the formal training system using the Community Skills Development Centres.
“The programme aims to improve the quality and relevance of skills delivered using a certification system and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full-time skilled employment, self-employment and or further their education,” Farouq said.
According to the Minister, the programme targets marginalised and disadvantaged population, including those with primary or no-formal education.
She added that the N-Skills programme was in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for the development, classification and recognition of skills, knowledge and competencies acquired by individuals, irrespective of where and how the training or skill is acquired.
She emphasised that It would help in bridging the gap in demand for standard and market relevant skills.
“I also deeply appreciate the support of other stakeholders and their contribution to the realisation of Mr President’s agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“On this note I, therefore, formally declare the Training of Master Trainers for the N-Skills Programme opened,” Farouq declared
Farouq was represent at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Bashir Nuhu Alkali.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the NSIP, Dr Umar Bindir commended Buhari and Farouq for their passion to lift Nigerians out of poverty.Bindir charged the trainees to be focused,
committed and resourceful during the training sessions to be able to show deep understanding while training others. (NAN)