FG doles out starter packs to vocational training beneficiaries

Following a one-month entrepreneurial and vocational training program conducted by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), the Federal Government has distributed starter pack equipment to beneficiaries. The starter packs consist of cooking and kitchen utensils for catering and baking businesses, vulcanizing equipment for tire management, sewing machines for sewing and fashion design, and carpentry tools for furniture production.

During the closing ceremony of the Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme, held in Abuja, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro announced the distribution of these resources. He explained that the government identified unused equipment in government warehouses and decided to refurbish and redistribute them to Nigerians as a means to create jobs.

Doro emphasized that Nigerian resources lie within its people, not just the soil, and this administration opted to invest in the productive capacity of citizens to enable them to build a dignified life independently. He noted that logistical delays in some states led to some beneficiaries switching their chosen trades, but these issues would be addressed in future training programs.

Additionally, each beneficiary received a stipend of N60,000 to cover transportation costs back to their home state. Dr. Doro stated that the beneficiaries gained knowledge in entrepreneurial and business management, financial literacy, and customer relations, all of which would benefit their future businesses. Dr. Badamasi Lawal, the CEO of NSIPA, encouraged the recipients to utilize their equipment wisely and responsibly, urging them not to sell the starter packs but to employ them for the trade they learned.

Dr. Nsikak Okon, the National Programme Manager, assured that the government would monitor the beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the starter packs. One of the beneficiaries, Lois John Remfat, who specialized in Agricultural Technology, shared her perspective on the importance of learning a trade to supplement her income and potentially create employment opportunities for others.