The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has commenced training of 360 people in Cross River State on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and other trades to make them self-reliant.
The state NDE Coordinator, Mr Edem Duke, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Calabar recently.
According to him, the five-month training will expose the youths to various skills to sustain themselves and reduce the rate of unemployment in the state.
“There are 360 trainees undergoing five months training in computer operation, GSM repairs, catering, cosmetology and hair dressing.
“In addition, we are training 50 school leavers in soft landscape, hard landscape and interlocking of tiles,” he said.
Duke said that if youths were empowered with skills the rate of social vices in the society would decrease, noting that NDE was passionate about equipping unemployed youths with marketable skills.
He said that 120 of the youths were being trained in the skill centres established in each of the three senatorial districts of the state.
Duke appealed to stakeholders to partner with the directorate in training youths in the state.
“I appeal to local governments and our representatives in the state and National Assembly to partner us to equip our unemployed youths with needed skills to be self-employed.
“As a directorate saddled with the mandate of reducing unemployment in the country, we undertake training of these youths in different areas.
“But we need the support of stakeholders to assist the trainees with some grants to help them set up businesses after their training,” he said.
