Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday announced plan to create 40, 000 direct jobs in the next four years for youths in Kwara state.
The youth empowerment scheme will be carried out under Skill Acquisition, Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP) of Saraki Employment and Empowerment Centre (SEEC), Ilorin.
The managing consultant for STEP, Mr. Nasir Abdulqadir, disclosed this at a news conference in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
He said that 250 beneficiaries out of 10, 000 applicants had been selected for the pilot scheme that would commence on November 12, 2016.
The consultant said that the programme was aimed at training and empowering youths with advanced skills in computer engineering, software development, animation, mechatronics engineering, cinematography, event management, interior decorations, catering services, etc.
“The goal of the senate president is to directly train over 40,000 youths from within and outside Kwara state in skills that can make them compete with their counterparts all over the world. With 40,000 youths trained in the next four years under the STEP programme, we believe the multiplier effects will have direct impact on job creation and economic growth of Kwara state in particular and Nigeria in general”, he said.
Abdulkadir, further said that the programme had no political colouration, adding that beneficiaries would be funded with seed money to start their business after the training.
He also said that efforts would be made to create market for the beneficiaries of the programme to ease their success rate, noting that both local and state governments had agreed to patronise them.
He stated that beneficiaries of the programme included 85 per cent of indigenes of Kwara state, while others were non-indigenes, adding that the ratio was 55:45 males and females with five per cent allocation made for people living with disabilities.
“In the same vein, about 13 per cent of the total figures are holders of Masters degree, 47 per cent are graduates with first degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND), while the rest have lower academic certifications”, he said.
Source: Leadership