The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has equipped 1,127 youths and women in Plateau State with vocational skills in agricultural technology, automobile repairs, confectionery, tailoring, and other trades.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Kuru, near Jos, on Tuesday, Mary Fom, the State Coordinator of the Social Investment Programme, stated that the initiative sought to foster self-reliance and reduce poverty nationwide. Beneficiaries also received training in cooking, catering, masonry, grinding, and vulcanising.
The exercise, branded as the Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training, was delivered through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA). Ms Fom disclosed that participants completed a two-week intensive course across seven centres and were each presented with starter packs and cash grants.
She urged graduates to cascade their knowledge to others in their communities, emphasising that such replication would amplify the government’s economic recovery efforts.
Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government, encouraged the beneficiaries to apply their newly acquired skills practically and cautioned against selling the starter packs. He reaffirmed Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s commitment to sustained policies aimed at lifting Plateau citizens out of poverty.