Niger State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has advised youths and other unemployed individuals in the state to acquire skills in order to cater for their individual needs.
Governor Sani-Bello stated this at the flag off ceremony of 250 youths skills acquisition program at the Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation.
Addressing the participants at the ceremony, Governor Sani-Bello said acquisition of skills remain the best alternative to white collar jobs.
“Skill acquisition is the way forward. We must develop skills because these days it is extremely difficult to get white collar jobs. The way to survive in Nigeria now is to have skills and this is exactly what Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation stands for.” the Governor noted.
He urged the beneficiaries as well as other employed individual to desist from activities that will not add value to their lives and also called on them to take full advantage of the skills acquisition program to chart a new course for themselves and add value to the society.
“It is my believe that on completion of this program you will be able to cater for yourselves and your families”.
” My advise to all of you is to try and enroll in this program. From this some of you can become millionaires if not billionaires. There is no shame in business and trade. You have to be very proud of what you do and find yourselves one day managing big companies and creating job opportunities for other Nigerlites”. He added.
He also informed the beneficiaries that his government will support them with starter packs and contracts.
The Governor also assured the Provost of the Institute, Hajiya Nana Ibrahim, of the state government support to ensure that the Institute is accredited and therefore called on her to present a formal document of what is required for the accreditation of the Institute .
Earlier, the Project Manager, Youth Empowerment, Alhaji Nma Kolo sai the program is said to be targeted at 1000 youths drawn across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state. The first phase of the program is aimed at 250 youths with duration of 2 months training program in masonry/bricklaying, carpentry, plumbing/pipe fitting, painting and POP among others.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Provost of the Institute, Hajiya Nana Ibrahim disclosed that the trainees would be issued a National Innovation Diploma certificate at the end of the program, adding that the certificate will be equivalent to that of Polytechnics and also appealed to the state government to ensure the accreditation of the Institution by the National University Commission.
