A total of 30 young people will receive skills training and be gainfully employed following the launch of the National Youth Authority’s Skills Towards Employability and Productivity(STEP) project at Axim in the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency of the Western Region on Tuesday.
The beneficiaries would receive training in trade areas including Cosmetology, Dressmaking, Hairdressing, Commercial Driving and Satellite Dish Installation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme at Axim on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) for the NYA, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide explained that, the initiative spearheaded by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was to ensure job sustainability for the youth across the country.
“The project complements the Technical and Vocational Education Training(TVET) initiative by ensuring that hundreds of youth gain employment through skills training,” he stated.
The project he said, was essential as the coming generation of millionaires were entrepreneurs and people who acquired skills training.
“The five areas of trade were carefully and strategically selected as they are required on daily basis, economically relevant and serve the interest of the youth,” he stressed.
The project he said, would be monitored and more people would be added if the first phase was successful.
“Be disciplined and avoid circumstances that would prevent you from getting trained to gain employment and be economically stable,” he advised.
He also urged the youth to get involved and support the growth of the country through this project.
The former Member of Parliament for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, said, already over 1000 people had benefited from the training since 2009.
“Take the project seriously and develop the skills needed for economic freedom and job sustainability,” she told the beneficiaries.
The former Minister of Tourism urged the beneficiaries to be disciplined and humble while asking the trainers to be patient with the young ones and help them to be self-sufficient.
On her part, the Municipal Chief Executive(MCE) for the area, Elizabeth Dorcas Amoah added that the youth needed to be gainfully employed to contribute to national development.
“It is a privilege to have the project in the area. Take advantage of the opportunities available to gain employment,” she stressed.
The trainers were provided with tools that would help them train the beneficiaries.
By: Clement Osei Aboagye
