The National Business and Technical
Examinations Board and the Lift Above Poverty Organisation Microfinance Bank on
Tuesday launched a partnership to provide skill acquisition and vocational
training for unemployed Nigerians.
The Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer, LAPO MFB, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, explained that the
initiative would create opportunities for beneficiaries from 28 states and the
Federal Capital Territory to receive practical training in catering,
hairdressing, bead making and Information and Communications Technology.
Ehigiamusoe, who spoke while signing
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of
NABTEB, Dr. Olatunde Aworanti, explained that the financial institution would
provide start-up loans ranging from N50,000 to N200,000 to the successful
trainees, who would be certified by the examination body.
He also said that the loans were repayable within 24 months, with an interest
rate of 2.5 per cent.
The LAPO chief, who was represented
by the Head of Sustainability, Brandy Stevens-Igbe, noted that 60 beneficiaries
were currently undergoing a six-month training at the National Directorate of
Employment and the Women Development Centres in Edo and Lagos states.
Ehigiamusoe stated, “After NABTEB has
certified them, we are going to do another rollout. This time, it is going to
be 50 in Benin and we will do 60 in Lagos, because we have Lagos One and Lagos
Two.
“It is imperative for us in LAPO that
were are giving children the stepping stone to move on because the economic
development and growth of a country depend on small and medium enterprises.”
Earlier, Aworanti said the initiative
was a common aspiration between the two institutions on youth development and
empowerment for sustainable national growth through skills training,
acquisition, assessment and certification.
“What we are interested in is getting
these people out of the streets and getting them employed,” he added.
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