The need to have a productive youth population equipped with relevant vocational and technical skills to combat poverty, unemployment and crime cannot be overemphasized.
It is this realization that motivated Cities and Regional Development Initiative (CRDI) in collaboration with Chinese partners to flag off the construction of a vocational training centre and the enrolment of youths at the Sandralia Hotel, Abuja on Friday.
Princess Joy Osaji, FCT Coordinator of CRDI in her remarks said the initiative is aimed at mitigating urban and rural poverty, promoting healthy living, socio-economic development and uplifting vulnerable and disadvantaged women, children, youth and men in community settings through the adoption of vocational training, skills acquisition as well as empowerment technics to breaking the scourge of urban poverty and unemployment.
Her words, “Our vision since inception in 2012 has remained the same which is the upliftment and reinvigoration of communities across the country where vulnerable and disadvantaged women, youths and men would live positive and sustainable lives and children would survive in a well-planned environment.
“It is our zeal for social emancipation, guided by our vision for a better and sustainable society devoid of social vices, criminalities and unemployment that is the motivating factor for this project. In the last few years, our youth empowerment activities have helped over 1000 Nigerian youths become self-reliant by developing and equipping them with vocational skills. We have recorded modest successes in Edo, Delta and parts of Lagos state. What we are doing here today is the first in a series of developmental activities in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.”
While outlining the successes recorded, she pledged the willingness of the organization to work with the government and relevant stakeholders in tackling the scourge of unemployment by equipping the youths who constitute over 60% of the population with relevant skills.
Austin Chi, representative of China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC) who spoke on behalf of other Chinese partners said the Chinese government is willing to build an economically viable Nigeria by providing employment and technical support for the training of youths with relevant skills needed for productivity.
Guest of Honour and Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Honourable Christopher Zikka who flagged off the program thanked CRDI for giving youths in the area council a new lease of life. Hon Zikka, who was represented by Deputy Speaker of the legislative council, Honourable Tony Onoja thanked the Chinese government for facilitating the project.
Dignitaries who spoke at the event commended the Chinese government for providing technical support to Nigerians in the areas of skills acquisition and employment and harped on the importance of empowering the citizens with relevant skills to curb insecurity and societal ills.
The vocation training centre which is expected to be completed in few months is facilitated by the China Chambers of Commerce, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC), China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC) and China Harbour Engineering Company Nigeria Limited (CHEC) among others. Participants are expected to be trained in agriculture and agro-business, building, welding, carpentry, tailoring, mobile phone repair, painting, baking, and soap making among others.
Founded and incorporated in 2012, CRDI is a community-based, development-oriented organization with a key interest in poverty alleviation and youth empowerment through vocational skills training in rural and urban communities.
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