Nomadic Education Commission urges state govts to provide adequate teachers, infrastructure in schools

The National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), has urged all States government to provide adequate teachers and infrastructure for Nomadic Primary Schools in their various states, so as to ensure quantitative and qualitative education.

The commission also seeks a concerted effort by all to be determined in ensuring that all out-of-school Nomadic Children totalling 3.5 million are enrolled back in Schools.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Bashir. H. Usman made the appeal during his opening remarks at a 3-day Capacity Development Workshop on Skill acquisition and Sustainable livelihoods for 130 Nomadic Youths across Seven States, held in Kaduna.

Usman, represented by Director of Quality Assurance, Mr Akin Akinyosoye noted that, In an effort to address some of the key challenges in the Sector, the Commission developed a variety of approaches one of which is the promotion of community-driven and need-based programmes in the area of youths’ skills acquisition and sustainable livelihoods.

He said the Commission’s initiative of empowering the youths through Skills Acquisition of Livelihoods can go a long way in reducing poverty percentage of many rural societies, reduce restiveness, social vices such as cattle rustling, kidnapping, raping, rural banditry, piracy, and incessant conflicts leading to wanton destruction of lives and properties.

“I am particularly delighted that the Commission has at this promising moment taken a leading role in addressing the frightening challenges of nomadism in present day Nigeria.

“Our teaming youths are very eager to imbibe relevant livelihood skills which play a key role in providing food security and income for millions of families and their communities. It has also been established that over One billion people are involved in rural menial jobs globally, with more than half of these depend on livestock, agriculture, and emerging innovative entrepreneurship skills for livelihoods, Most rural skills dependent people live in developing countries including Nigeria.

“As part of the efforts by the Commission to promote the delivery of relevant and functional skills, extension education and services to the various nomadic communities across the country, the Commission conducted Participatory Needs Assessment and Identification of Trainees for this important skills acquisition training on livestock and dairy development, fashion design and Hairdressing among the seven benefiting states namely; Borno, Cross River, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi and Oyo

“You will bear with me that empowering the youths is the means through which they are assisted to succeed in life and having the opportunity to develop the ability they need to become role models who can influence their communities and earn a living for socio-economic and sustainable livelihoods development”,

“It is my fervent hope that the participants carefully selected, will pay particular attention to the imparting of knowledge, attitudes, values and skills, as well as utilize numerous globally and emerging innovative techniques to improve quality of your life, production systems and the education of your children in the future”, he said.

Also, Director Extension Education and Skills Development, NCNE, Dr. Abdu Umar Ardo said the training which is being organized by the Department is to build capacity of the Nomadic Youths to be able to successfully build their skills based on their needs and their various community needs for the development of their various communities and the society at large.

While giving the objectives of the training as, to train a critical mass Nomadic Youths knowledgeable on modern in-demand Skills acquisition and empower them with sustainable livelihood skills, build their capacities so as to organize themselves to utilize and transfer the new knowledge to their community members, among others, he urged the beneficiaries to take the training serious, so as to be self-reliant.

“My dear participants with all these, it is hoped that the knowledge, skills and competencies you will acquire from this capacity building workshop will make you more efficient, effective and resilience in the setting up of mini enterprises”.