By Ifeoma Aniagbado :
In line with the policy direction of Prof. Charles Soludo administration in ensuring quality assurance in the 1Youth2Skills Apprenticeship Scheme, the state government embarked on the retraining and certification of business owners and institutes that will serve as trainers in the second phase of 1Youth2Skills programme.
The retraining and certification exercise, which is expected to last for two days is being facilitated by Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).
In his address while flagging off the programme at Awka ,the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba stated that the retraining workshop and certification programme was approved by Governor Chukwuma Soludo as part of the innovations to upscale the 1Youth2Skills programme.
He disclosed that Mr. Governor also approved and released funds to ensure that the exercise was done free of charge for all the successful trainers.
The commissioner reported that over 8000 applications were received from business owners and vocational institutes, and after the first phase of the screening, 2000 centers were selected and invited for revalidation in July 2024.
He also disclosed that 600 business owners and 20 institutes will be eventually selected and certified as trainers across the 21 LGAs and 179 communities in the state.
While describing such as unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, he commended the training centers present for passing through all the rigorous selection processes to get to the retraining and certification stage on merit and notified that the next phase of the programme would be value-orientation for all the certified trainers.
Mr. Agha Mba further thanked the governor for his intentionality and determination in advancing youth agenda and human capital development holistically, stating that Mr Governor’s key mandate to the Ministry of Youth Development is to redefine the youth empowerment programme from immediate consumption to a more productive, innovative, exportive and impactful venture.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Youth Empowerment, Dr. Nelson Omenugha thanked the governor for his tremendous support and all members of the ANSEC committee on 1Youth2Skills for the spirit of team work exhibited in the task of the remodeling of the action plan of the programme.
The SA also thanked the certification agency, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME), for prompt and adequate preparations.
Also Speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff/ Chief Protocol to the Governor, Mr. Chinedu Nwoye emphasized the importance of passion to achieve set objectives and advised the participants to pay attention to the training and give the trainees the necessary attention.
He advised the trainers to take the exercise very serious and thanked Mr. Governor for approving the second phase of 1Youth2Skills programme.
In his presentation on the Basic Techniques of Skills Acquisition, the Chairman of NASME, Mr. Chinemerem Oguegbe, enjoined the trainers to always devote enough time to their responsibilities and maintain attendance register for their trainees.
Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Martin Agbili and the management team of the ministry, Special Assistant to the Governor On Youth Development, Mr Emeka Tony Omatah, Executive Assistant to the Governor On Youth, Mr Chibuzor Udeh, the team member from ANSICTA, Mr. Tochukwu Ebeku, as well as Prince Godspower Olottah, Chike Egbuna and Leonard Nwadike, who are business development consultants.
* Aniagbado is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
