NAN-ND-3
Beneficiaries
Calabar, Nov. 13, 2016 (NAN) Some beneficiaries of the National Industrial Skill Development Programme in Cross River have appealed to the Federal Government to provide them with funds to procure the equipment that they need to work with.
They made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the end of their three-month training in Calabar.
Mr Agim Joseph who obtained some training in Electrical Engineering, said he wanted government to provide funds for him to enable him to open a workshop.
Joseph told NAN that he enrolled in the programme having searched for white-collar jobs for over five years after graduation, but no success.
“I am a university graduate and had searched for jobs for many years after graduation. Now, I have been trained in aluminium fabrication.
“I can now provide employment for myself and others. But I need some funds to procure the tools to work with so as to take full advantage of the skills I acquired.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Elizabeth Dennis said: “I want government to do more by providing us funds to start the business because some of us may find it difficult to raise funds.
“I thank the organisers of the programme for the skills I acquired during the training. It is a very rewarding experience.
“I enjoyed it and I appreciate government for giving me the opportunity. Now, I can design different fabrics on my own. I can also bake cakes.
Mr Obase Sam who also trained as an aluminium fabricator, lauded UNPF for organising the three- month training.
Sam, however said, “my problem is how to raise funds to start off. I think government should help the beneficiaries with funds and working tools so that we can take off properly.
“This is necessary otherwise some people will just end up idling away their time for lack of funds to start practising what they have learnt.
The programme was jointly organised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry. (NAN)
BEN/EMO/AMY
Edited by Ejike Obeta and Abdullahi Yusuf