By Aminat Ahmed
The Federal Government of Nigeria has trained 80 youths in tailoring and fashion designing under its National Skills Acquisition training program.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung during the graduation ceremony for the youths last Friday presented certificate to beneficiaries at the National Youth Development Center in Ode-Omu, Osun state.
In the three weeks long training programme held at the same venue from Tuesday 12th – 30th March, 2019, the minister disclosed that 27 young men and 53 young women unemployed youth from the six geo-polical zones have been successfully trained and had acquired knowledge in Financial Literacy, Physical Exercise, Citizenship Education, Pattern Design.
Other knowledge acquired include Servicing of Industrial Sewing Machine, Production of suit, Shirt and Trouser, Shirt and Blouse, Gown, Baba Riga(Agbada), Window Blind etc.
In his address, the Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Adesola Olusadenoted that the medium economic goals of the 2017-2020 Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government is to a great extent dependent on the active engagement of Youth.
He said that youth empowerment is not only determined based on means of livelihood that will only create jobs, but also contribute to peace and security of the the nation.
Dalung divulged that the programme foregoing set is “further justified by the realisation that eligible goods for export to the United States of America under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which enhances duty-free access to the U.S market for qualification of Sub-Saharan Africa includes apparel and clothing.
“This programme which is the first of its kind to be implemented by the Ministry was carefully designed to ensure that skilled youth that can compete in the Fashion and Design Industry locally and at the international level are produced from the programme.
However, the Minister promised that officials of the Ministry will monitor the progress of the participants periodically to provide guidance and ensure compliance in line with the objective of the programme.
He further said that the Ministry may from time to time call on identified graduands that distinguish themselves to come and produce wears for TEAM Nigeria contingents on international and continental engagement.
In his report, the programme Coordinator, who is also the Director-Enterprise Development & Promotion, Mr Simon Oduyebo reiterated that the programme was conceived to strengthen the efforts of Government on Job Creation, diversification of the economy and also to empower already skilled unemployed youth through upgrading of their skills and provision of business support services in specific area of their profession.
He urged the participants to approach the opportunity given “with responsibility and good conduct, bearing in mind always the goal of the programme, which is to empower youth not only for their individual benefit but also for the socio-economic development of the nation.”
Mr Simon noted that the hub is open to all Nigerian youth who are into Tailoring and Fashion Designing for use in their business with the token payment for usage.
