A total of 2,826 beneficiaries have commenced skills development and entrepreneurship training under the third cohort of the IDEAS-TVET programme in Plateau State.
The six-month programme, supported by the World Bank and implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical, technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills to enhance employability and promote self-reliance.
The programme was formally flagged off on Friday in Jos, with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, the IDEAS Project, Plateau State Government, Training Service Providers (TSPs) and beneficiaries in attendance.
Now in its fourth month of implementation in Plateau State, the programme is being delivered through various Training Service Providers across the state, with beneficiaries receiving hands-on training in different technical and vocational fields.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Safiya Mohammed, urged the trainees to take the opportunity seriously and remain committed to acquiring skills that could provide sustainable livelihoods.
Mohammed encouraged the beneficiaries to look beyond conventional white-collar jobs, stressing that entrepreneurship could serve as a pathway to self-reliance and economic empowerment.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, Iheanacho Prince, who represented the National Coordinator of IDEAS, Blessing Ogwu, said the programme was particularly important in addressing unemployment among young people.
He said the initiative was designed to equip beneficiaries with practical, technical and entrepreneurial skills capable of enabling them to establish businesses, create jobs and contribute to economic growth.
Iheanacho expressed optimism that the programme would help produce a new generation of skilled entrepreneurs who could become contributors to the state’s economic development.
Also speaking, Jackse Mangtat, Director of Administration and Finance, who represented the Director-General of the Plateau State Microfinance Development Agency (PLASMIDA), Bomkam Wuyep, commended the initiative.
Mangtat said the programme aligned with the objectives of PLASMIDA, noting that the present administration had continued to support efforts aimed at strengthening skills development and economic empowerment.
He stressed that vocational and entrepreneurial training remained critical to tackling unemployment and creating opportunities for young people.
One of the beneficiaries, Jacob Ruth, who received training in welding and fabrication, expressed appreciation for the opportunity.
Ruth said the skills acquired would enable her to become economically independent and, in the future, create employment opportunities for others.
Earlier, the representative of the Training Service Providers, Olawuyi Oyewusi, commended the trainees for their commitment and positive attitude toward learning.
Oyewusi urged the beneficiaries to concentrate on mastering the skills provided through the programme, noting that such practical competencies would be essential for navigating the evolving modern workplace.
He added that the practical knowledge, experience and entrepreneurial capacity acquired through the training would help the beneficiaries build sustainable livelihoods after completing the programme.
