NDE Trains 2000 Youths In School-On-Wheel Programme

National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Coordinator in Delta,  Mr. Patrick Isedu, said no fewer than 2,000 persons had been trained in its School-on-Wheel Programme in the state.

Isedu who spoke  in Asaba on Sunday, said beneficiaries of the programme where trained in hairdressing, automobile engineering, electrical installation and fashion designing among others.

He said “the beauty of the programme is that NDE moves fully equipped vans to meet the people at their various locations to deliver the training and empower them.

“NDE has trained 2200 youths on vocations as hairdressing, tailoring, fashion designing, automobiles electrical installations among others since inception of the programme in the state.

“The beauty of the programme is that the directorate moves fully equipped vans to train these youths at their doorsteps.

“Apart from training and empowering the youths, the programme, would also help in preventing rural-urban drift, among others.’’

The coordinator said the directorate had the capacity to train more youths across the 25 local government areas in order to help address the rising unemployment and security challenges in the state and in the country.

He said, however, that the major constraint of the directorate was funds, adding that with adequate funding, the directorate could train 60 artisans in one local government area in a circle.

He called on the state and local governments to partner with the agency, noting that apart from the school-on-wheel programme, NDE had other packages that could be employed to train and help youths to discover their hidden talents.

He remarked that it was important for trained youths to be equipped at the end of the programme, noting that training youths without empowering them amounted to nothing.

“This is so because during the training, their expectations are high and if their desires are not met, all the training will become a waste.

“This is why the Director-General of NDE emphasises a proactive and holistic approach to training; so, the school-on-wheel programme is an integral scheme designed for tackling unemployment.

“To this end, NDE employs collaborative effort with the state, local government and other private individuals to address a common problem.’’

Isedu said that he had sent proposals to the state government on how it could partner with the directorate to create and complement government’s efforts in addressing unemployment in the state.

“NDE’s role is complementary to that of the state government. We can also support with database which will help to create a feedback mechanism necessary for the success of the programme.’’