The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has concluded the training and empowerment of 500 youths drawn from Oyo Central Senatorial District with solar-powered starter packs worth over N500 million.
The beneficiaries, aside from the starter pack, were given N60,000 each as take-off grant.
The presentation ceremony, which was held at the Jogor Event Centre in Ibadan on Tuesday, had in attendance the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Teslim Folarin, the management team of NCDMB, including Mrs. Angela Okoro, Mr. Adebayo Joseph, Chinedu Ihediani, and others.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, represented by the Director of Policy and Research Studies, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, said the programme was aimed at providing the youth with a means of livelihood.
Wabote, who disclosed that Nigeria, in terms of global rating, was rated 61 in solar technology, ahead of China and other developing nations, urged the beneficiaries to explore the opportunities in the power sector.
He added that the training programme, which lasted for one month, had allowed the beneficiaries to showcase their in-born talents.
According to him, the selection process was painstakingly done, adding that it lasted for one month.
The beneficiaries were selected from towns and villages in Oyo Central Senatorial District.
The programme is aimed at liberating the youth from the shackles of poverty.
“With this training, they have become employers of labour.
“In their own little way, as entrepreneurs, they will contribute to the Internally Generated revenue (IGR) of the state through tax remittance.
“Also, there is a need for collaboration between the state government and NCDMB.
I want to commend Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting the course of the NCDMB, but there is still much to be done”, Wabote said.
Speaking in the same vein, the General Manager, Mrs Angela Okoro, disclosed that NCDMB had trained over 16,000 youths in different vocations across the country.
She said the various vocational training were to enable the youths to take over the jobs of the expatriate in the oil and gas sector.
“We are training the youths at NCDMB for them to take over the jobs of the expatriate in the oil and gas sector”, Okoro said.
Speaking at the occasion, the facilitator of the programme and the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Folarin, admonished the beneficiaries to make good use of the programme.
The programme has provided the beneficiaries with the opportunity to work for themselves as entrepreneurs.
“You have been trained as employers of labour, not job seekers.
“Also, there is a need for NCDMB to create a database for proper monitoring and mentorship.
“The beneficiaries should be encouraged to form a cooperative society, while NCDMB should take them into consideration for quick-win jobs”, he said.
