FG Graduates 23,991 N-Skills Programme Beneficiaries in Bauchi

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has based upon the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the restructuring of NSIP introduced the N-Skills programme on a certification system and accreditation of training provided through the informal Apprenticeship System anchored by Master Craft Persons (MCPs), and through the formal training system using the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs).
The Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouk said that the Federal Government based upon the job creation potentials of the programme, introduced new trades to create more opportunities for the teeming youths under Pilot 2, and currently on boarding has 23,991 N-Skills beneficiaries for the training on additional eleven trades.
Sadiya, at Closing of MCPs Training and Flag-Off of N-Skills Pilot 2 in Bauchi gave the new trades as Auto-mechanic, Leatherworks and Shoe making, Smart Devices, Welding & Fabrication, Aluminum Assembly & Fabrication, Plumbing & Piping, Electrical Installations, Agency Banking, Tailoring & Embroidery, Baking & Cosmetology, Fish Farming and Jewelry-Making & Wire Works.
“To complete the training of these beneficiaries, the Ministry selected 1,830 MCPs from the 36 States and FCT for the 6-months apprenticeship. The MCPs were carefully selected using NBTE-guided criteria. Today, we are concluding the Orientation/preparatory training of MCPs selected from the North-East geopolitical zone and flagging-off the commencement he second pilot of the N-Skills programme”.
According to her, the orientation/capacity-building training equipped the MCPs with basic knowledge and appreciation of their roles and functions to enable them to participate meaningfully in the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) training system as well as the use of training curricular based on the National Occupational Standards (NOS) in apprenticeship training.
“As we wind up the training, the Ministry is working with relevant stakeholders (including the NBTE and relevant Awarding Bodies) on formation of MCP clusters and to provide hand-holding support for strengthening MCP cluster structures and internal governance”.
She disclosed that the Ministry is also paying a modest stipend to the MCPs to enhance the delivery of the training, as it expects the Master Craft Persons to effectively play their role of providing work-based training for the next 6 months, to boost their productivity and incomes and to explore the opportunity of becoming NBTE-accredited skills trainers.
Minister Sadiya explained that the N-Skills programme provides unique solutions to the two perennial challenges of youth unemployment and low productivity in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, as it gives the opportunity to onboard large numbers of unemployed and marginalized youths in the country and bring them into productive employment and formal education system in the shortest possible time.
“This will potentially translate into broad based, inclusive national economic prosperity, which is in line with President Buhari’s social inclusion agenda. This Administration has created an opportunity for you, either as N-Skills MCP or trainee, to change your socioeconomic status and contribute meaningfully to national development. I urge you to therefore, actively participate to learn and to enhance your productivity”, she said.
The minister recalled that it was in furtherance to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the restructuring of NSIP and in line with the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) that the process to revamp and expand the NSIP was instituted to make it more impactful on the economy and citizens, leading to the introduction of the N-Skills programme.
She further explained that the programme is based on a certification system and accreditation of training provided through the informal Apprenticeship System anchored by Master Craft Persons (MCPs), and through the formal training system using the Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs), targeting the marginalized and disadvantaged population, including those with primary education as well as those not in any Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
“It aims to improve the quality and relevance of skills delivered using a nationally standardized certification system on the one hand, and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full-time skilled employment or self-employment, on the other.  It will help in bridging the gap in demand for standard and market relevant skills”.