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Tackling Unemployment: NEDC Organises Training For 60 Youths On Electrical Technicians

Published

3 years ago

October 15, 2023

Joel Ajayi

In its determination to ensure many youth get the necessary skills to flourish in their various works, the passionate, North East Development Commission NEDC in collaboration with the Yola Electric Distribution Company YEDC and Mainstream Energy Solution has organized eight weeks of skill training for 60 Electrical Technicians (linesmen) from across the six states of the North-East.

The participants were drawn from all the North East which are Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba States.

Speaking at the weekend at NEDC headquarters in Maiduguri Borno State MD/CEO NEDC Mohammed Goni Alkali said Empowering Nigerians for the demand of workplace and self-reliance will reduce the unemployment rate, especially among the youths.

He noted that the unbundling of the power sector by the federal government and subsequent retrenchment of aged personnel of the defunct NEPA created a vacuum in manpower need especially, the skilled labour, not only in the YEDC but in the entire power distribution companies, DisCos, throughout the country.

Alkali said the commission intended to leverage this and partner with the mainstream academy to enhance the skills of the unemployed youths with prerequisite qualifications and fill the existing vacancies in the zone.

He said, “The NEDC in pursuance of one of its core mandates of identifying factors inhibiting the development of the zone and assist member states and other stakeholders in the formulation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of resources of the zone among others, collaborate with the mainstream academy, a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solution and organized skill training for 60 youth of the zone extraction (Electrical Technicians) on high powered installations at the Academy in Kainji, Niger State.

He added that over the years, the commission had been synergizing with the relevant stakeholders in public and private sectors to enhance the technical skills of the unemployed youths in the Northeast for employment generation and income.

On his part, Mr Usman Umar, the Director of Mainstream Academy, a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solution Ltd, lauded NEDC for investing in education and skills development.

Umar urged the youths to maximize the opportunity provided to them to boost their potential.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Mohammed Yerima, said they remained grateful for being among those who would benefit from the many opportunities provided by NEDC for youths in the zone.

Yerima assured that they would not disappoint the commission and their families for the double opportunity provided to them in training and employment.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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