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HCD: NCDMB/ITF begin training of 255 Youths in Vocational Skills
“the enormous challenges posed by unemployment and poverty in the country can only be tackled successfully through the collaborative efforts of agencies and organizations”.
…9000 trained since inception of Board
Modupe ASUDO
LAGOS-IN an effort aimed at sustaining its commitment towards Human Capacity Development, HCD, The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has partnered the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to tutor 255 Nigerian youths in nine vocational skills.
The six months training is being funded by the NCDMB and will be conducted by the ITF, covering classroom and intensive practical exercises in Hospitality and Tourism, Mobile Phone Repairs and Troubleshooting, Information and Communication Technology, Electrical/Electronic Technology and Industrial Automation and Mechatronics.
Other areas include Instrumentation and Process Control, Mechanical Services & Maintenance, Residential Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Maintenance and Building Technology.
The kick-off ceremony was held on Thursday in Abuja, the beneficiaries having been selected from the Board’s NOGIC-JQS platform, with representation from the six geo-political zones of the country. A further selection exercise was organised for the trainees, involving computer-based tests and oral interviews in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote spoke at the ceremony, where he affirmed that the initiative was consistent with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and NCDMB’s 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, targeted at growing Nigerian Content from 27 percent in 2017 to 70 percent by 2027.
The Roadmap also aspires to retain over US$14bn out of US$20bn estimated annual industry spend in-country and create over 300,000 direct and indirect employment.
The intent of the NCDMB/ITF collaboration is to close gaps in vocational and entrepreneurship skills among Nigerian youths, drive self-employment and value creation in the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors and address youths’ redundancy and loss of economic value of human capital needed to drive economic growth, he explained.
Part of the goal is also to strengthen the linkage between the oil and gas industry and other sectors of the Nigerian economy and complement the Federal Government`s commitments and efforts towards job creation and diversification of the Nigerian economy.
Wabote highlighted the premium NCDMB places on human capital development, adding that “from the inception of the Board in 2010, over 9,000 Nigerians have benefited from our training in various skill areas for graduates and artisans resulting in over 10 million training man-hours.”
He assured that NCDMB will continue its training interventions and was widening its coverage to vocational and entrepreneurship skills, which are critical to the creation of employment, sustainable growth and diversification of the Nigerian economy.
He expressed delight over the Board’s partnership with ITF, which has excelled in the strategic role of leading the development of knowledge and skills in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
In her remarks, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade & Investment Amb. Mariam Yalwaji katagum said the event underscored “the commitment of the Federal Government towards improving the country’s economy and livelihood of the citizenry by equipping the Nigerian youth with requisite skills for entrepreneurship and employability, in spite of the negative effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
She urged the trainees to seize the privileged opportunity and use the skills they will acquire to not only put food on their table, but to meaningfully contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy.
The Director-General of ITF, Mr. Joseph Ari commended the NCDMB for “its numerous skills programmes that have empowered thousands of Nigerians with cutting-edge skills for employability and entrepreneurship.”
He hinted that the enormous challenges posed by unemployment and poverty in the country can only be tackled successfully through the collaborative efforts of agencies and organizations.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have disclosed details of their recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification came amid speculation surrounding the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after leaders of several opposition parties attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the president earlier in the week.
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Speaking during a gathering hosted in Abuja by the SDP’s former presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo on Friday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the meeting with Tinubu followed an official invitation from the Presidency and lasted about an hour.
According to Gombe, the discussion centred on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to remind the president of the importance of conducting transparent, free, and credible elections.
Gombe noted that democracy can only thrive when governments listen to the concerns of citizens and ensure electoral processes that guarantee fairness and accountability.
The SDP chairman also expressed concern over growing voter apathy, pointing to the low turnout recorded in the recent Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council election witnessed only about seven per cent voter turnout, which he described as a clear sign that many Nigerians are losing confidence in the electoral system.
Gombe urged the government and members of the National Assembly to take urgent steps to review electoral laws and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said political parties used the meeting to raise concerns about aspects of proposed electoral reforms, particularly issues related to indirect primaries and the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
Dantalle explained that the parties appealed to the president to use his influence to encourage legislative review where necessary, noting that reforms should strengthen, rather than complicate, the democratic process.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider the concerns raised and support necessary amendments that would improve the electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines as preparations for the next election cycle begin.
Earlier in his remarks, Adebayo cautioned political actors against turning the 2027 general elections into a do-or-die contest, stressing that the primary goal of democracy should be the progress and stability of Nigeria rather than personal political victories.
He urged leaders across political parties to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
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