The Federal Government has introduced the N-Power Knowledge Multi Track Youth Empowerment Programme, under its National Social Investment Programme, NSIP.
The programme for which over N5 b, inclusive of 5% tax, has been earmarked, targets 12,000 young Nigerians non-graduates between the ages of 18-25 years.
A statement by Mr. Akpandem James, Special Adviser to the Budget and Planning Minister said beneficiaries of the programme would undergo a12- month training.
The statement said: “N-Power knowledge is a non-graduate programme that will engage 50,000 non-graduate Nigerians between the ages of 18-35 years to be trained and developed as young creative talents, equipped and supported to meet the local and international demand for software developers, web designers, animators, graphic artists and maintenance/assembling of mobile phones, tablets, computers and other devices. It aims at training, investing in work/business tools and facilitating transition to market.
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“The general objective of the programme is to foster innovation and transfer to young Nigeria beneficiaries, technical proficiency in the manufacturing, assembly, repair and maintenance of devices ranging from computers to smart phones tablets, POS machines and other electronic devices that are fairly common in everyday enterprises within Nigeria.
“It targets 12,000 young Nigerians between the ages of 18-25 years across the six geo-political zones of the country. The training intends to transform the 12,000 beneficiaries from unemployed/underemployed trainees to employed citizens and entrepreneurs, from licensed mobile money agents to agents of nationwide sales, services and repair centres and distributorship network.
“The 12,000 will in turn each train additional 5 youths, bringing the total beneficiaries to 60,000.”
According to the statement, the programme is open to all unemployed Nigerian youths irrespective of socio-economic or educational background.