No Fewer than 87 beneficiaries have graduated from the Kaduna State Peace Commission, National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and United Nations Development Programme livelihood Support Vocational Training programme in Kaduna state.
The beneficiaries according to them, are victims affected by Violent conflicts in some communities of the state, therefore, affecting their means of livelihood.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Saleh B. Momale said, the UNDP and Norwegian embassy who have been supporting the commission and Kaduna state in promoting peace and harmonious coexistence recognized the difficulties communities affected by violent conflicts faced, hence, proceeded to provide livelihood opportunities to youths and women from the affected communities.
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He explained that the beneficiaries who had undergone six months’ Vocational training in Six different trades were drawn from communities in Jema’a, Kajuru, Kaura and Zangon- Kataf local government areas of the state.
“We are here today to celebrate with the graduates of a six months’ intensive apprentice on different vocational skills. During the training, professionals at the National Directorate of Employ(NDE) tutored 87 youths and women on viable vocations, including crop cultivation, catering, animal husbandry And carpentry among others.
“We have information base on our consultations with stakeholders from the affected LGAs and we know these communities where violence have affected people, we held meeting with community leaders, youth based groups women group in each of these communities to identify enterprises from among themselves from these trading.
“The hands-on training has enabled the graduates before us to become experts in these vocations. To enable them apply the knowledge gained, starter-packs appropriate to each vocation will be handed over to these graduates here today”.
He expressed optimism that the beneficiaries will make good use of the skills and the starter packs provided, to rebuild their livelihood, enhance resilience and benefits the wider members of the communities.
Also at the occasion, the Head, Governance, Peace and Security, UNDP, Mathew Alao, said, “today we are indentifying with the vulnerable people in the conflict affected areas in line with the United Nation(UN) principles of living no one behind.
“We identified about two hundred people, we invited them to two weeks orientation training in jos and only 87 of them turn up for this training, so for the 87 that turned up, unfortunately we lost one of them, so today is the graduation of the 86 in seven trade areas”.
He noted that the benefits of such training is enormous, as it will not only empowered them to have a long life skill or employment, but will also get them apprenticeship that will learn under them and also help in the peace stability of their respective communities.
“By extension it is also helping the Nigerian govt to reduce unemployment, boast economic activities and also increase their tax revenue because as soon as these people start establishing their respective businesses, they have to pay tax to the govt, so the benefits is multiple and you are going to see it from now on.”
“As you can see from the trainees, they have started producing somethings, and the equipments the UNDP govt and Norwean gave them will make them solid, strong and reliable for the rest of their lives”, he said.
While giving her vote of thanks at the occasion, the Permanent Commissioner, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the starter-packs provided to them, saying the commission will put up a monitoring team that will monitor them, to ensure compliance with regard to the kits given to them.
