The Federal Government has given laptops and other accessories as start up kits to 3,000 beneficiaries, after graduation from the N-Knowledge training of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, disclosed this while closing the training on Wednesday in Abuja, describing it as remarkable.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Umar-Farouq was represented at the event by Dr Umar Bindir, the National Coordinator of NSIP.
Farouq congratulated the beneficiaries who attended the training at different camps and were trained, thus, marking the end of the N-Knowledge component of the N-Power programme for the batch C1.
She explained that it was a well-known fact that N-Power programme was a critical part of the NSIP domiciled in her ministry.
“The N-Power programme is key to helping young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills that will ensure they become solution providers and entrepreneurs in their communities.
“N-Power has three core segments; N-Power Volunteer Corps (the Graduate programme), N-Power Build (Non graduate programme) and N-Power Knowledge (Which is a non-graduate programme).
“The N-Knowledge programme embodies the N-Tech Hardware, N-Tech Software and the N-Creative training programmes (Animation and Scriptwriting).
“During the training sessions, you all learnt the core components in the respective tracks and develop competencies. These will increase production and add to the overall growth of the society.
According to her, the Federal Government has invested heavily to ensure that the objectives of the training were achieved.
“This include the cost of your accommodation across the 24 training camps, your monthly feeding allowance of N27, 000 for three months and your transport allowances of N30, 000 divided into two, N15, 000 when reporting to camps and another N15, 000 as you returning from the camp.
“Your stay during this training period has instilled discipline in you and has remodeled you towards the tasks ahead, most especially on life skills reorientation.
“This is significant, because, you were introduced to Life-Skills and attitude re-orientation, work ethics and rules of engagement were also exposed to you. This is reformative.
“Let me assure you that your monthly stipends of ten thousand naira (N10, 000) for the period of nine months which has commenced will continue, to the end of your apprenticeship period.
“The different training tools are being provided to aid in your further development. These were procured to enable you maximize the skills learnt during your stay in the camp, and to start off with your vocation.
“However, all the training tools were carefully designed to meet the needs of the different programme tracks in hardware maintenance, software development and creative design,’’ Farouq stressed.
The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unwavering efforts in eradicating poverty in the country and for supporting and sustaining the NSIP.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other geopolitical zones of the country also exited 3, 000 beneficiaries, given them laptops and others accessories to help them start what they have learnt.
Mr Dennis Ochala, Project Manager, Heritage Plus Multi-Concept Limited, the trainers in Abuja for North Central Zone, appreciated President Buhari and Farouq for their passion to achieve the objectives of the training.
“The trainees have now acquired skills that would be able to now set them up to creating a future to take care of their homes and enhance their wellbeing,’’ he said.
We want to thanked the Federal Government for coming up with this programme and targeting the right population group,’’ Ochala said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Adamu Nkrorji from Agaie, Niger State, appreciated the Federal Government and the consultant.
“I will use these skills to enhance my life and take care of my younger brothers and sister so that our family can have a better life,’’ he said.(NAN)