The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has trained 258 youths in Plateau on smartphone repairs.

Sadiya Farouq, the minister in charge of the ministry disclosed this at the closing of the training and presentation of starter packs to the beneficiaries on Tuesday in Jos.

Represented by Ladan Haruna, the Director of Administration of the ministry, the minister said the exercise was part of the N-Skills programme, a component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

She said that the training is a pilot scheme of the N-Skills programme under the non-graduate component of the N-Power programme.

“The programme aims to improve the quality and relevance of skills delivered using a certification system and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full-time skilled employment, self-employment and further their education.

“It targets marginalised and disadvantaged populations, including those with primary or no formal education,” she said.

According to the minister, “While the N-Skills accommodates many skills-based enterprises, this smart phone repair is used to pilot the programme under the N-Power non-graduate component.

“This is consistent with the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

“The programme is designed to train, tool and transition marginalised unemployed youths into the labour market to be gainfully employed,” she said.

The NSIP Focal Person in Plateau, Sumaiya Hamza, said the exercise was aimed at reducing unemployment in the state.

She explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, adding that it would also reduce social vices and promote peace and insecurity in all parts of the state.

(NAN)