April 28, 2022

The Federal Government said on Thursday that it has committed the sum of N5.9 billion on training, tooling and monthly stipends for the Batch C beneficiaries of the N-Power Programme in Kano State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq said this at the closing ceremony of the graduation of 177 youths, who benefited, from the government’s training on Smart Phone Repairs and Services under the N-Skills programme, a component of the N-Power programme in Kano.

However, the disclosure triggered outrage from reporters and others at the event. On social media, some Nigerians including persons present at the event expressed outrage at the huge amount compared to the small number of beneficiaries.

The Ministry has been involved in several human capital development initiatives especially in the north.

The Minister was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on N-Skills, Dr Nasir Mahmoud, who disclosed that about 16,629 youths were currently benefiting from the programme (under Batch C) in the state, noting that about 18,042 had already benefitted in the Batch A and B of the programme. The minister explained that Business Clinics are also being set up in partnership with states and the FCT to provide post-training business start-up and entrepreneurship mentoring and support to the beneficiaries.

Farouq warned the N-Skills beneficiaries against selling their starter packs, which were handed over to them after the programme, adding that it was intended to help them overcome unemployment and make them employers of labour instead.

She explained further: “We have had such experience in the past, whereby beneficiaries were engaged in selling of the starter packs, which is rather unfortunate. Do not sell them, as they are meant for your judicious use to bail you out of the unemployment circle and transform you to employers of labour.

“The programme’s goals, among others are to improve the quality and relevance of skills delivered, using a certification system and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full-time skilled employment, self-employment and/or further their education. It targets marginalized and disadvantaged population, including those with primary or no-formal education.

“The N-Skills accommodates many skills-based enterprises. Smart Phone Repairs is used to pilot the programme under the N-Power non-graduate component. The programme is designed to train, tool and transition marginalized unemployed youths into the labour market to gainfully be employed. The Ministry collaborated, with technical service providers to provide the N-Skills training services to 6,475 unemployed youths across the Federation,” the minister said.

On completion of training, beneficiaries are issued a Certificate of Attendance and given a starter pack, ranging from Rework Soldering Station (Soldering Iron), Digital Multimeter, Set of Precision Screwdriver and Repair Tool Kit, as well as a magnifying lamp that would enable them to start the smartphone repairs business.