A total of 23,991 N-Skills beneficiaries are presently being onboarded by the federal government for training in an additional 11 trades, including auto mechanic, leatherworking and shoemaking, smart devices, welding and fabrication.
Other industries include fish farming, plumbing, electrical installations, agency banking, baking & cosmetology, jewelry-making & wire works, aluminum assembly & fabrication, plumbing & piping, and tailoring & embroidery.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social has carefully chosen 1,830 MCPs from the 36 States and FCT for the 6-month apprenticeship who were chosen using NBTE-guided criteria in order to finish the training of the beneficiaries.
The announcement was made by the Minister in charge of the Ministry, Sadiya Umar Faruk, on Tuesday at the Professor Iya Abubakar Computer Center in Bauchi during the conclusion ceremony for the Master Craft Persons (MCPs) training program and the beginning of the N-Skills (Pilot 2) program.
She said: “Today, we are completing the Orientation/preparatory training of MCPs selected from the North-East geopolitical zone and flagging-off the beginning of the second pilot of the N-Skills program.”
In order for the MCPs to participate meaningfully in the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) training system and the use of training curricula based on the National Occupational Standards (NOS) in apprenticeship training, the orientation/capacity-building training gave them a basic understanding of their roles and functions.
“As we wrap up the training, the Ministry is engaging with key stakeholders (including the NBTE and relevant Awarding Bodies) on development of MCP clusters and to provide hand-holding support for improving MCP cluster structures and internal governance,” the Minister continued.
She claims that the Ministry also gives the MCPs a small stipend to improve the way the training is delivered and that they are expected to “effectively play your role of providing work-based training for the next six months, to boost their productivity and incomes and to explore the opportunity to become NBTE-accredited skills trainers.”
She continued by saying that the N-Skills program offers special solutions to the two ongoing problems of youth unemployment and low productivity in the MSMEs sector.
“It gives us the opportunity to enroll significant numbers of unemployed and marginalized kids in the country and bring them into productive jobs and formal education system, in the quickest feasible time,” Sadiya Farouk added.
“This could result in widespread, inclusive national economic growth, which is consistent with President Buhari’s vision for social inclusion. As a N-Skills MCP or trainee, our administration has given you the chance to improve your socioeconomic situation and significantly advance the country. I thus urge you to fully participate in order to learn and to increase your productivity,” she continued.
The Minister continued by saying that despite the economic crisis the Administration inherited, since President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration took office in 2015, the Federal Government has focused more on raising awareness of the condition of the poor and vulnerable in the nation.
This influenced the choice to launch the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), one of the largest social protection programs in Africa with nearly $1 billion set aside annually to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens of the nation.
She claims that since its launch in 2016, the program has had a good effect on the lives of Nigeria’s impoverished and disadvantaged. People who were living below the poverty line and those who are susceptible to shocks have had life-changing events that I have personally witnessed.
In addition, she added, “We introduced measures to restructure and expand the NSIP and to make it more influential on the economy and citizens in keeping with President Muhammadu Buhari’s permission for the restructuring of NSIP and in line with the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS)”.
“This resulted in the introduction of the N-Skills program,” she continued, “which is based on a certification system and accreditation of training provided through the informal Apprenticeship System anchored by Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and through the formal training system using the Community Skills Development Centers (COSDECs).
The Minister continued by saying that despite the economic crisis the Administration inherited, since President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration took office in 2015, the Federal Government has focused more on raising awareness of the condition of the poor and vulnerable in the nation.
This influenced the choice to launch the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), one of the largest social protection programs in Africa with nearly $1 billion set aside annually to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens of the nation.
She claims that since its launch in 2016, the program has had a good effect on the lives of Nigeria’s impoverished and disadvantaged. People who were living below the poverty line and those who are susceptible to shocks have had life-changing events that I have personally witnessed.
In addition, she added, “We introduced measures to restructure and expand the NSIP and to make it more influential on the economy and citizens in keeping with President Muhammadu Buhari’s permission for the restructuring of NSIP and in line with the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS)”.
The Minister continued by stating that the initiative focuses on the underprivileged and marginalized population, including those with only a primary education and those who are not enrolled in any type of education, employment, or training (NEET).
It intends to enhance the quality and applicability of skills supplied through a nationally standardized certification system on the one hand, and to make it easier for target beneficiaries to transfer to full-time skilled employment or self-employment on the other. It will assist in closing the gap between the demand for standardized skills and market-relevant abilities, she said.
In 2021, the Ministry tested the N-Skills initiative by equipping and teaching 6,475 young people from the 36 States and the FCT in the repair and maintenance of smart phones. Given the program’s ability to produce jobs, we included more trades as part of Pilot 2 of the program to provide our teeming kids greater opportunities.
In order to coordinate the training of MCPs and to offer technical support for the management of the N-Skills program, the Ministry recruited consulting firms. Sadiya Farouk acknowledged the technical support and professional services provided by these organizations.
She voiced confidence, adding, “We will receive the greatest possible return on our investment of time and resources into the recently created N-Skills initiative. I also greatly value the assistance from other parties and their effort to achieving the President’s goal of rescuing 100 million Nigerians from poverty. In light of the foregoing, I formally declare the N-Skills (Pilot 2) Program to be in operation and close the Training of Master Craft Persons Program.
In his remarks, the program’s principal consultant, Dr. Mohammed Sagagi, gave the assurance that the training was intended for the instructors who would then instruct the candidates for the skills who had been chosen and were awaiting instruction.
Mohammed Sagagi also gave the assurance that the instructors would have all the skills they would need to impart to the students in order to lower the rate of unemployment among the throngs of young people loitering the streets.
