Unemployment: NABTEB, LAPO collaborate on skill acquisition

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.