By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Government has empowered 3,000 beneficiaries of the N-Knowledge component of the N-Power programme for the batch C1 with starter- packs in the North Central Geo-political Zone and the FCT.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq at the closing ceremony of the N-Knowledge Training Programme in the six Geo-political Zones of the country, reiterated the FG’s commitment to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all the social intervention programmes are achieved and sustained.
Represented by the National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Engr. Umar Bindir, the Minister expressed delight to bid farewell to the trainees.
Farouq who congratulated the beneficiaries noted that the N-Power programme is a critical part of the National Social Investment Programmes domiciled in the Ministry designed to achieve the National objectives of poverty reduction and job creation.
The Minister assured the trainees that their monthly stipends would continue till the end of their apprenticeship.
She said,”Let me assure you that your monthly stipends of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000) for the period of nine months which has commenced will continue to the end of your apprenticeship period.
“The different training tools are being provided to aid in your further development. These were procured to enable you maximize the skills learnt during your stay in the camp and to start off with your vocation.
“I hereby present these training tools and their complimentary accessories to you. Above all, your certificates of completion of training which is an attestation of good behaviour and attendance is sealed and delivered to you.
“All the training tools were carefully designed to meet the needs of the different programme tracks in Hardware maintenance, software development and Creative design.”
She noted that the N-Power programme is a critical part of the National Social Investment Programmes domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) and designed to achieve the National objectives of poverty reduction and job creation.
She stressed that the N-Power programme is key to helping young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills that ensure they become solution providers and entrepreneurs in their communities.
The Minister explained that the N-Power has 3 core segments: N-Power Volunteer Corps — the Graduate programme, N-Power Build – Non graduate programme, N-Power Knowledge – Which is a non-graduate programme and embodies the N-Tech Hardware, N-Tech Software and the N-Creative training programmes (Animation and Scriptwriting).
“You will confirm by now that N-Knowledge programme is focused on equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills and certification to become competent workers, innovators and entrepreneurs prepared for both the domestic and global digital job market.
“N-Knowledge programme targets to upskill 20,000 young Nigerians on the global radar as exporters of worldclass services and content in the creative and information technology sectors. The shortfall of about 7,000 will be mopped up as soon as possible to meet up with the target of 20,000 as earmarked for this tranche.
“This training component is targeted at developing competencies of the youth in software development, Hardware training and creative industry which is catalytic as well as the groundwork to make Nigeria compete in the outsourcing market for software development. It will develop the skills and capacities along the skills set in the value chain of website development, mobile apps maintenance and start the talent development effort for the growth of information technology industry in Nigeria.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is committed to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all the social intervention programmes are achieved and sustained. We have documented evidence what a lot of you have come out with at the different training camps such as developing cartoon applications and other creative arts. These are all encouraging and clearly shows that you all assimilated what you were taught which the Federal Government has invested heavily on.
“This includes the cost of your accommodation which is borne by Federal Government across the 24 training camps, your monthly feeding allowance of N27, 000 for 3 months and your transport allowances of N30,000 divided into N15, 000 when reporting to camps and another N15,000 as you returning from the camp,” Farouq said.
The Minister thanked President Buhari for his administration’s unwavering efforts in eradicating poverty in the country and for supporting and sustaining the National Social Investment Programmes.
She reiterated that that Mr. President has approved that N-Power be expanded to accommodate one million beneficiaries.
“We have carefully implemented this where the batch C1 accommodates a total of 510,000 beneficiaries and the batch C2 will commence soon. This is to enlist more Nigerian youths into the programme.
“The National Social Investment and Information Management Systems (NASIMS) is a platform used in payment of stipends and ts aimed at ensuring transparency in the NSIP. We will continue to bnng in nnovations that will ensure the sustainability of the programme in all facets.
“I must thank all stakeholders for your unflinctung support and wish the trainees all the best as you commence your apprenocestup phase.
“I hereby declare the N-Knowledge Traineng Programme for the 6 geopolitical zones closed and I wish you safe tnps back home,” the Minister declared.
The Permanent Secretary, FMHADMSD, Bashir Alkali represented by the N-POWER Team Lead, Nsikak Okon remarked that the N-Knowledge Training Programme cut across the 24 training camps in the 6 geo-political zones
He noted that the N-Power programme is an all-inclusive programme that focuses primarily on unemployed Nigerian youth with the aim of developing their employability and entrepreneurial skills.
Alkali stressed that the NPower programme which is for young Nigerians between the ages of 18-35 is a brain child of the Buhari-Osinbajo Administration and this has recorded tremendous successes over the years
He therefore advised the trainees see this opportunity as a blessing that must not be wasted
“This journey witnessed an intensive crashed and undiluted training programme aimed at making the trainees well equipped for the tasks ahead of them.
“Our dear trainees were well informed during the training sessions of this programme that you should make judicious use of this rare opportunity, you were also well advised to imbibe all the skills and reorientation that were well organized for you during your stay in the different training camps.
“I would want to emphasize again that every trainee must see this opportunity as a blessing that must not be wasted. Having interacted with various kinds of people from different background, making friends, learning together, discovering together, then put all these efforts to practice as this will shape your future.
“Recall that several thousand applied for this same programme and you got the opportunity to be engaged into the programme having satisfied the selection criteria. This should be taken seriously,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that about 3,000 non graduate beneficiaries in the Central out of the 60,000 in the six geo-political zones are being empowered with starter packs.
