NDE, Katsina Govt partner on employment generation

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Katsina State Government has agreed to partner to tackle the issue of unemployment in the state. Both agreed to this when the NDE Director General, Abubakar Mohammed, paid a visit to Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari.

Mallam Abubakar told Governor Masari that the NDE had about eight fully equipped skills acquisition centers across Katsina State; including a traditional textile training center in Agayawa and an integrated farming training scheme in Kagadama.

He explained that each of the first six centers is training 120 unemployed persons in different areas, such as Computer operations, GSM repairs, Fashion design, Knitting, Welding and Autotronics; while another 120 are receiving training in traditional weaving in Agayawa center and 50 unemployed persons are also being trained in Environmental beautification.

The NDE director general said that if such projects are replicated across all the local governments in the state, it would go a long way in reducing youth unemployment.

Abubakar said “The challenge of mass unemployment in the country is not an exclusive monopoly of an agency but requires an active collaboration of all relevant stakeholders.

“May I suggest that the NDE skills acquisition centers in Katsina State be used to provide basic apprenticeship while the state-owned crafts villages be upgraded to provide advanced apprenticeship for those wishing to acquire higher proficiency and competencies. This I believe could be a first step towards a mutually beneficial collaboration.”

In his response, Gov. Masari assured that the state government would partner with the directorate in the ongoing efforts to make jobs available for Nigerians.

Gov. Masari said: “We have seen your landmark which is appreciated by this administration that focuses on human capital development.