The UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has begun the training of 1,500 youths on technical and vocational education in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Mrs Mairama Dikwa, Education Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Bauchi, stated this at inauguration of the training exercise on Tuesday in Hong, Adamawa.

Dikwa said the training was aimed at supporting vulnerable people affected by the insurgency and could not go back to formal schooling due to their age bracket.

According to her, the programme is under the KFW 2 project, funded by the government of Germany.

“This is an important project that will result in the training of 1,500 young adults, female headed households and other vulnerable people that were affected by the insurgency and cannot get back to school due to their age.

“The training will start with 500 beneficiaries followed by second and third batches of 500 beneficiaries each.

“Our goal is to ultimately contribute to improving the economic status of the people affected by the insurgency in Adamawa,” she said.

Dikwa said the beneficiaries were expected to maximise the opportunity to become employers and step down the training in their respective communities.

The training, she said, would have the efficacy of creating sustainable development through job creation and multiplying the number of entrepreneurs in the state.

In her remarks, Mrs Wilbina Jackson, the state Commissioner for Education, reiterated the commitment of the state government to partner with UNICEF and other development partners for sustainable development of the state.

Jackson, represented by Isiah Bulus, a director in the ministry, thanked the UNICEF for its educational interventions in the state, adding that provision of education and entrepreneural skills remained the major focus of the government.

Also speaking, Mrs Charity Dubi, Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Mass Education Board, said the training would go a long way to create more job opportunities to persons affected by the conflict.

She urged the trainees to give proper attention to the training excercise to enable them to learn trades and become self-reliant. 

The trainees will be exposed to tailoring, shoe making, welding and soap making during the three months exercise.