Skill acquisition crucial to economic recovery, employability ― DG, NDE

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6 years ago

The newly recruited artisans during their orientation exercise in Ibadan

The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr Nasiru Mohammed Ladan Argungu, has harped on the need to use skill acquisition to build employability, saying it is crucial for the attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

This was just as the NDE boss stressed the need for vocational skills, which he described as central to human survival.

Speaking at the orientation exercise of the 300 B-NOAS participants held in 3 MDG training centres in Oyo State, Dr Argungun, represented by the State Coordinator, Alhaji Safiiyu Awosanya, stated that the NDE’s mandate lies strategically in using training followed by resettlement as a tool to empower youths with marketable skills and addressing skills mismatch arising from our educational institutions, hence, promoting decent employment opportunities.

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“About 11,100 youths and women are to be trained in quick-win demand driven skill sets nationwide; 25,900 others to be trained in cosmetology; 650 in school-on-wheels in 13 states and 1,200 in advanced National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (A-NOAS) in 24 states and the FCT.

“These young artisans will be the next generation of cosmetology products producers, fashion designers, farmers, electricians, computer operators, bricklayers and tilers among others.

“These upcoming artisans will, through, multiplier effect, create several thousand other jobs, thus, impacting on the real sector of the economy.

“Vocational skills are central to human survival; it is key to sustenance and satisfaction of basic human needs and also a vehicle for a person to reassert one’s own dignity, occupy a productive place and fuel useful and contribute positively to the family and society at large.”

The DG added that in using skills acquisition as tool for employability and poverty reduction, not only wealth would be created, but a sure path to sustainable national growth and development. Therefore, the use of skills acquisition to build employability is crucial for attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).