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The Bayelsa State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) to train and connect 2,000 young people to employment opportunities under the Youth Employment Pathways (YEP) programme over the next two years.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Yenagoa, is aimed at expanding market-driven skills development for youths in Bayelsa and addressing unemployment through structured vocational and enterprise pathways.
The agreement brings together the Bayelsa State Ministry of Youth Development and PIND in what both parties describe as a targeted intervention designed to align youth training with labour market demand.
Focus on employability, not just training
Speaking at the signing ceremony, PIND Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, said the YEP model is designed to go beyond conventional skills acquisition by linking training directly to employment outcomes.
According to him, the initiative is built to close the gap between learning and earning by ensuring that young people are equipped with practical, industry-relevant skills that improve their chances of securing jobs or starting businesses.
He noted that the model integrates technical training, employability development, and private-sector partnerships to create sustainable economic opportunities.
650 youths to benefit in first year
Under the first phase of implementation, about 650 youths are expected to be trained in the first year, while the full target of 2,000 beneficiaries is projected to be achieved within two years.
The programme will focus on sectors identified as high-demand areas in Bayelsa following a labour market assessment. These include agriculture, ICT, building construction, services, marine and blue economy, automobile, and oil and gas.
These sectors were selected based on their capacity to absorb skilled labour and generate long-term employment opportunities in the state.
Bayelsa aligns programme with youth development agenda
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, said the partnership supports the state government’s broader strategy for youth empowerment and economic growth.
He said the collaboration reflects the government’s commitment to creating practical pathways for young people to become economically productive and self-reliant.
Beyond direct youth training, the partnership is also expected to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions in Bayelsa, improving their capacity to deliver relevant and industry-aligned programmes.
Why this matters
Youth unemployment remains one of the major socio-economic challenges in the Niger Delta, despite the region’s economic significance.
PIND said the YEP programme has already supported over 14,000 youths across the Niger Delta in sectors including agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, construction, and services.
The Bayelsa expansion signals a broader push to scale inclusive economic opportunities through public-private partnerships, with the state emerging as a key beneficiary of PIND’s regional youth employment strategy.
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