FG initiates school-to-work training for 150 students in C/River

As part of measures to curb the rising rate of unemployment in Nigeria, the Federal Government has initiated a School-To-Work training programme for 150 secondary school students in Cross River State. 
The programme would be managed by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). 
Minister of Labour and Employment,Dr  Chris Ngige who flagged off the training  said it is meant to equip the students with employability skills and engage them in meaningful activities during the holiday period. 
Ngige said that the federal government was not unaware of the rising unemployment in the country, adding that the scheme which was new in the Directorate was designed to engage the students in learning self employed skills like barbing, phone repairs, computer repairs and others. 
“As part of measures to address  unemployment and lack of technical skills, federal government has designed programmes and schemes towards skills acquisition for graduates and non graduates. This training programme is meant to equip the students with employability skills that would make them self reliant even after their West African Examination,” he said. 
Acting Director General of NDE Mr Olakunle Obayan, said that the idea behind the programme was to provide diverse vocational, agricultural and entrepreneurial skills training for secondary school students. 
Obayan said that the students would be entitled to a stipend in the course of the training. 
Represented by secretary to Cross River State government,  Barrister Tina Agbor, Governor Ben Ayade  said that the programme was in line with the state government agenda of reducing employment by engaging graduates and non graduates in meaningful and employability activities.