Borno Girls obtain skills to unlock potentials

Youths including girls from the different parts of the insurgency-ravaged Borno State are taking up industry-relevant skills that will provide them with the path to self-reliance.

The youths are part of the 594 unemployed persons trained by the Vocational Skills Development Department of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), under its Basic and Advance National Open Apprenticeship Schemes in Maiduguri.

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Beaming with a smile, one of the beneficiaries of the one-day course, Zainab Ibrahim, said she was ‘confident’ the skills she obtained on catering and cap making will make her to become self-employed.

She said she will strive to “become expert in my chosen career and train others” to improve the informal sector of the economy as well the female labor force in the country.

Another trainee Fatima Modu who took up skills in soft furnishing said apart from establishing her personal business ventures in the next couple of days, she will organise training sessions for youths at different locations and help them identify their weaknesses and develop professionally.

Ali Buhari who learned welding skills said the NDE’s apprenticeship programmes are useful for career paths and for hobbyists.

“We were given the chance to acquire some welding skills which will enable us to make and mend metal products.”