As part of efforts at reducing the spate of unemployment in Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige has affirmed Federal Government’s determination to establish more skills acquisition centres across the country to provide vocational training to unemployed youths.
The Minister stated this in Abuja when he received in audience a delegation from the Ngige Mandate Movement, Abuja branch.
According to him “the Federal Government will soon establish more skills acquisition centres across the country to train unemployed youths in different vocational skills through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), project”.
Speaking further, Sen. Ngige said that given the alarming rate of unemployment in the country, Nigerians should de-emphasize the quest for white-collar jobs and explore other alternatives citing skills in Building construction such as plumbing, tile laying, plaster of Paris, screeding, and painting among others as viable means of livelihood.
Ngige urged Nigerians to brace up to the challenges of the time, stressing that the present Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving no stone unturned in making sure that unemployed Nigerian youths are engaged in productive ventures.
To this end, he said that his Ministry is liaising with other Government establishments and Non-Governmental Organizations, State and Local Governments on the need to sensitize people to key into the skills acquisition programme of the Federal Government.
While reiterating that Nigerians should adjust emotional attachment to white-collar jobs, he disclosed that government will in no distant time embark on Community Service Scheme through the Conditional Cash Transfer meant to alleviate poverty among the vulnerable in the society.
Earlier, in his address, the Coordinator of the Ngige Mandate Movement, Abuja Chapter, Foster Ogbalu said that the purpose of their visit was to congratulate the Minister on his appointment as the Minister of Labour and Employment.
Ogbalu assured the Minister of their unalloyed support, adding that they are determined more than ever before to collaborate with him to making sure that he succeeds in the discharge of his duties.
Samuel Olowookere,
Deputy Director (Press)
