FCT NEWS:UNESCO REGIONAL DIRECTOR APPLAUDS FCTA’S COMMITMENT TO YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organization, - UNESCO, Regional Director for West Africa and Country Representatives for Nigeria, Mr. Ydo Yao has applauded the unmatched commitment and support of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, towards human development and youth empowerment programmes in the Territory.

The UNESCO Boss gave this commendation on Thursday, November 22, 2018, when he paid an appreciation visit to the FCT Minister in his office. The visit he stated was in recognition of the huge success achieved so far in the FCTA/UNESCO partnered Youth Mobile ICT Bootcamp and Training programme in the Territory.

Mr. Yao used the occasion to brief the FCT Minister of plans to celebrate 1000 youths who would successfully complete the ICT Training programme embarked upon by the organization in collaboration with the FCT Administration. He stressed on the need to institutionalize the process by establishing a hub where beneficiaries could come for refresher courses and follow-up exercises.

His words, “Honourable Minister, your support was very exemplary, it has been unmatched everywhere we go, and we hope others would borrow a leaf from you.”

According to Mr. Yao, already results of the efficacy of the training is visible in the positive feedback of the four beneficiaries sent to Kigali, Rwanda for a youth conference. He said the Kigali conference was aimed at showcasing the knowledge gained from the Youth Mobile training.

The representative also used the occasion to request the support of the FCTA to facilitate a by-in by government for the Nigeria/UNESCO plan of cooperation, explaining that a final document for the cooperation has been drafted.

In his response at the occasion, the Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said that the FCT Administration will work with the agency to ensure refresher courses for youths in the FCT already trained by UNESCO under the joint venture programme.

Malam Bello called on UNESCO to liaise with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), stressing that the agency has an established system to carter for training and re-training of youths in the FCT. The Minister urged UNESCO to identify the youths due for refresher courses from the six area councils, adding that youths identified would however make presentations to AEA to ascertain the target areas for the refresher courses.

The Minister also said that the FCTA was working towards the subsequent marching of the trained youths to employers of labour. This, he said, would go a long way in curbing unemployment in the FCT as those not marched immediately would be in the AEA database and queued for matching, subsequently.

While acknowledging the work of UNESCO in the FCT, the Minister assured his guests that the FCT will continue to support UNESCO in all its efforts towards skills acquisition and youth empowerment for the overall development of the FCT.

 

COSMAS UZODINMA

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY