No fewer than 20 Gombe unemployed youths have commenced a three-month training organised by the National Directorate of Employment under the Vocational Skills Development Department for its Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme.

reports that the 20 beneficiaries will be trained in digital skills like photography, editing and domestic trade, and fashion design.

Beneficiaries are to earn N5000 monthly stipend for the duration of the three month’s training.

Speaking at NDE/MDG skills acquisition centre in the Kalorgu, Kaltungo Local Government Area, the Director Gene7ral, Abubakar Fikpo, told   that the training would hold simultaneously across the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory with 740 trainees in total.

Fikpo, who was represented by the acting Gombe State Coordinator, Mawa Lamu, noted that, “In Gombe, we have digital (photography, editing) and domestic trades (fashion designing). 20 of you are lucky to be among the selected ones considering the large number of unemployed persons in Gombe State and Nigeria.”

The DG stressed that he is not oblivious of the challenges of unemployed youths, adding, “We are aware of the plight of the unemployed in the country and we are doing our best to alleviate the hopes of the unemployed in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are aware of the economic hardship in terms of transportation that has been increased to N5,000.

Thus, he urged them to show commitment throughout the training, admonishing, “Make use of the opportunity available to you to build a future for yourself and be self reliant.”

Also speaking, Head of Department of VSD, Amina-Lewa Abba, who was represented by Hassan Abdul Karim, while commending the 20 participants, urged them not to misuse the opportunity.

She enjoined them “to use it judiciously, and show commitment to learn requisite skills to enable you contribute to the development of the country.