The federal government has commenced free six-month training for 120 Plateau youths on poultry farming.

The training is through the National Youth Skills Acquisition Fund (NYESAF), under the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project.

Daniel Jarafu, chief executive officer (CEO) VetVille Nigeria Limited, one of the federal government’s training service providers in charge of the training, said this on Saturday in Jos, at the flagoff of the programme.

Mr Jarafu said the project was a deliberate effort by the federal government to empower youths with skills that would make them skilful, self-sufficient, employers of labour and, in turn, boost the economic growth of the nation.

According to him, the six-month training is segmented into three months of theoretical and three months of practical aspects.

He further explained that at the end of the programme, the trainees would sit for the  National Skills Qualifications (NSQs) examination to earn a national certification, which would be equivalent to certification earned in the formal education system.

Earlier, Arhyel Balami, the guest of honour, said the initiative by the federal government was highly laudable as it would lead to the empowerment of youths with hands-on agricultural skills that would make them productive with sustainable livelihoods.

Mr Balami urged the trainees to make the best use of the training by being diligent, showing up and paying rapt attention during the course of the training.

NYESAF is to train 75,000 youths nationwide with the aim of enhancing job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic independence among young Nigerians.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to equipping youths with essential skills to drive economic growth and self-sufficiency.

(NAN)