By Oludsmisi Ojo.
In its bid to tackle the menace of poverty, unemployment and insecurity in Ekiti State, the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP), has trained and disbursed vocational materials to 200 youth in Ekiti State.
At the graduating and empowerment ceremony held in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, the UNDP team lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mathew Alao, said the programme was done in partnership with the Ekiti State Board of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE).
Besides, Alao added that the programme was funded by the government of Norway and UNDP and represents a fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) policy thrust to stem the tides of unemployment, poverty and all forms of unrest and violent attacks in Ekiti.
According to him, the beneficiaries were empowered after training at the National Directorate of Employment and certified to be proficient enough to stand as employers of labour and operate in the economy.
He however warned that anyone who sells his tools would be queried by UNDP.
Also assured that UNDP would continue to work with like-minded partners including UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral partners to implement strategic and innovative programmes to advance Nigeria’s development, economic progress and protection of human rights.
That apart, he said,” We will continue to accelerate our work to advance the course of youths, especially women and girls, who represent 64% of the beneficiaries, to promote peace and sustainable development in Nigeria in line with the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda”.
The UNDP official said the feedbacks they are getting for this programme from states that had benefited were heartwarming, particularly since the programme is depoliticized to ensure the right person to be captured as beneficiaries.
He said “Let me state that your guarantor is indebted to you and if any of you should sell your tool, you are in trouble. But most disturbing is the fact that your guarantors too will be involved, so your guarantors just ensure that you neither sell nor misappropriate your tools.
“These people are injected into the economy to contribute their quotas and when they are lifted, they will have the power to also lift other youth up. Government must be serious about completing their projects, Ekiti doesn’t need abandoned project because we have financially challenged”.
The Chairman, Board of technical and Vocational Education, Hon. Kayode Babade, hailed the body and government of Norway for providing all the necessary implements for the trainees to contribute to the economic growth.
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He said” I do not expect any of you to keep the tools or sell them and start to wander about again. What you all need for survival with the economic situation in the country has been given to you. Let it be known to you that you are under close watch and monitoring by the BTVE and our partner the UNDP.
The breakdown of the trainees and specialisations was listed by Babade as, 33 in hotel and catering trade, 57 in garment making, 29 in barbing and hair dressing trade, five eletrical graduands , and eight plumbing and pipe fitting trainees.
Others, according to former House of Assembly Majority Leader, are eight in Plaster of Paris (POP) and painting , eight in tiling, 17in GSM and Computer trade, 27 for leatherworks, and eight in welding and fabrication business.
