NAN-H-30
Programme
By Martha Agas
Jos, April 19, 2017(NAN) The Benue State Government has approved N43 million to buy start-up packs for 500 beneficiaries of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Plateau said this at the flag off of the programme in Makurdi in a statement by Mrs Suleyol Chaga, the Head, Public Affairs Units of ITF.
Ortom also pledged to pay N15, 000 as monthly stipend to each of the beneficiaries for the three months’ duration of the training.
The governor represented by his Deputy, Mr Benson Abounu, said that NISDP was a significant step toward empowering unemployed youths, reducing their restiveness and serving as `foot soldiers` for unscrupulous elements.
“ The state government is partnering the Bank of Industry (BoI) to secure a N3billion loan for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to boost economic activities in Benue.
“ A portion of the BoI loans will also be extended to the NISDP beneficiaries without collateral, provided they establish enterprises with feasible and good business proposals,’’ the statement said.
The governor appealed to the ITF to make the programme bi-annual so that more youths from the state would benefit.
According to it, Mr Joseph Ari, the Director-General of ITF, said that NISDP was conceived following findings that there were high unemployment vacancies in some organizations in the state.
“It revealed that most of such positions were being filled by foreigners because many Nigerians lacked the requisite skills required of such positions.
“ The programme in its earlier phases trained 84,100 Nigerians in over 30 trades and craft, most whom were today gainfully employed, or very successful entrepreneurs.
“The growing popularity of the NISDP has shored up plans to expand the programme so that more Nigerians will benefit.
“For instance, in the future, several streams will be run within a phase, while it will roll out in all the states at the same time.
“The fund has unveiled a four-year plan whose objective is to implement strategies directly targeted at creating jobs and reducing poverty among Nigerians,’’ the statement said. (NAN)
MAA/OIF/PAD
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Peter Dada