The Federal Government has handed over the operation of its Skills and Vocational Training Centre located in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, to the State government.
At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties, which marked the handover of the Centre, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, stated that the move would serve to generate employment for the youths of Taraba State and the surrounding region.
He emphasised the determination of the new administration to take the unemployed off the street, noting that putting the nation’s skills acquisition centres into full and effective use would serve that purpose.
The Minister commended the Taraba State Government for taking over the operationalization of the Centre, as it would boost job creation and employment generation in that State.
He encouraged other state governments to take a cue from Taraba State and go into partnership with the Federal Government on the operation of its Skills and Vocational Centres located in their states.
In the same vein, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, encouraged the youths and the unemployed to wean themselves off the unrelenting quest for white collar jobs, and accept the option of blue collar jobs by acquiring skills.
She urged them to key into the various skills acquisition programmes of government to improve their employability status.
Earlier, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Juliana Adebambo, stated that the Federal Government established skills and vocational centres nationwide to tackle unemployment and curb restiveness among the youths.
She noted that the signing of the MOU came at the right time, as youth restiveness in the North-Eastern region, where Taraba State is located, had become worrisome.
In his remarks, Taraba State Commissioner for Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Habu James Philip, stated that the Centre would be run effectively, as the State government had put in place, proactive measures and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure its smooth operation.
He said that the Centre would help in job creation and poverty alleviation in the state, and disclosed that the State government was aiming at training at least 5000 youths and women in skills in that Centre in the next three years.
Olajide Oshundun
Director, Press and Public Relations
