The Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Ali Agara, has encouraged 205 youths participating in the Directorate’s Vocational Skill Development (VSD) programme in Gombe State to aspire to become Nigeria’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Agara, represented by the Gombe State Director of the NDE, Mawa Lamu Asmau, gave the charge during the orientation programme of the VSD schemes under the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative held at the Education Resource Centre, Gombe.
Asmau explained that over 20,000 youths applied online for the programme in Gombe State, while the total number of applications received nationwide reached 414,000. She urged the selected participants to make good use of the opportunity to acquire practical vocational and digital skills that would enable them to become self-reliant and employers of labour.
According to her, the programme is designed to equip Nigerian youths with essential skills for wealth creation and to enhance their contribution to the country’s digital economy. She noted that youth empowerment remains a key pillar in driving inclusive economic growth and reducing unemployment across the nation.
The participants are currently undergoing intensive training in areas such as electrical installation, GSM repairs, computer operation and maintenance, quick-fix skills like perfume and drinks production, catering, and tailoring under the Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS).
They are grouped into categories that include Community Based Training Scheme (10), Digital Marketing Training Scheme (23), Persons With Disabilities (30), Quick Fix Demand Driven Skill (92), and B-NOAS (50).