By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja – The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is set to begin the implementation of skills initiative programmes to create and improve job opportunities for youths in Nigeria and Africa.
Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator, NEPAD, Nigeria, in a statement on Monday in Abuja said the initiative was in line with the commitments of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the government of Germany on youth empowerment.
She said following the selection of Nigeria as one of the implementing countries, a financing facility has been established for the programme’s office in Nigeria.
Akobundu said that a technical consultative mission would be in Nigeria from Feb. 28 to March 1, to officially launch the programme.
She said that the core theme of the mission would be to discuss the development of skills initiative for Africa.
According to her, the two-day working visit aims at informing the private and public sector about the programme, its opportunities and potentials to national economy.
“The programme would also identify synergies on other youth unemployment interventions in the country that could be aligned with existing bilateral and regional projects.
“It would sensitise and engage key actors in the areas of youth employment, programmes on skills initiative as well as explore possibilities to apply for funding from the financing facility.
“They would also consult with the key stakeholders on best practices and approaches for establishing a Continental Dialogue Platform on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)’’, Akobundu said.
She said that that as a developmental arm of the AUC, NEPAD Nigeria and NEPAD are committed to the successful implementation of the programme to create diverse opportunities for Nigerian youths.
