Action Aid Nigeria, Kogi Youth Commission to engage 750 youths in skills acquisition

Actionaid Nigeria in collaboration with Kogi Youth Development Commission (KYDC) will soon engage over 750 youths from across the state in various skills acquisition as part of measures to address violent extremism.

Resilience Programme Coordinator, Actionaid Nigeria, Anicetus Atakpu disclosed this at a one-day Roundtable Advocacy Meeting for Kogi Youth Development Commission Law in Lokoja, adding that the training was part of the International NGO’S Structure Strengthening Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE) project being currently executed in Kogi and Nassarawa states.

He said that the programme, sponsored by GCERF and executed by Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) and Actionaid Nigeria would now collaborate with the Youth Commission for better results.

Atakpu also maintained that Actionaid Nigeria planned to support 750 youths annually to acquire skills as part of its sustenance support programme in partnership with the commission, adding that there was need for the State Government to urgently implement the policy and operationalise the commission.

“The Commission will establish several programmes to foster Youth entrepreneurship and employment in such areas as micro-credit and franchise scheme, transition to work program skills training and as well, support awareness raising through media campaigns.

“The commission would also support research to identify labour market needs and areas of skills shortage, create and manage database on youth demographics and as well be free for sustainable policies that would contributes to youth development,” he said.

He further said that the law establishing the commission was an excellent example of a bottom-top advocacy campaign led by the local youth in Kogi.

Speaking, member representing Ankpa 1 Constituency who doubles as the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Ahmed Mohammed said that the state stood to benefit hugely from the commission, adding that there was need to regain lost grounds arising from non-existence of the outfit. He stressed that there was urgent need to start looking at the modalities to see how the commission would start. He also described the law establishing the commission as a win-win initiative.