How NEDC Is Expanding Youth Skills Acquisition In Power Sector

The North East Development Commission, NEDC, is meticulously building synergy and partnerships in a calculated strategy towards boosting economic development of the region. The Commission believes in achieving this through escalation of youth entrepreneurship scheme.

Skill acquisition  as a  means of  youth empowerment has caught NEDC attention since its establishment as the agency believed that exposing youth in skill acquisition programmes will reduce youth unemployment and enhance their self sustenance. 

Though the Commission has embarked on various economic empowerment in a way to motivating individuals within the region to make them productive and self dependent, it has pushed further by inculcating into the individuals entrepreneurship skills such as basic skills among others. 

However, investing in youth skill acquisition tailored towards regenerating the power sector is clearly strategic given various damages caused to key power installations mostly in Maiduguri, Borno State, severing most communities from the national grid.

The attacks, in 2021 were touted as the deadliest of all attacks by Boko Haram which plunged  the entire state capital with over three million people into darkness. 

For over 100 days Maiduguri and its immediate neighbours like Jere, Konduga, and parts of Damboa local government areas had no electricity to either lighten their homes or to power their business. 

Given that the power sector is key to driving development, the agency boldly initiated training of youths to strengthen capacity in that industry. This has led to the recent training of 150 youths across the region on various skills in the electricity sector. The 150 participants were drawn from the 6 north east states to attend the training.

The youths participated in three months intensive training programme at the Momas Metering School (MMS), in Ogun state. The training specifically aims to produce certified installers and technicians for electricity meter installations to meet the demand of Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) as approved by the Federal Government. Beyond the technical aspect of the training, the module also trains the beneficiaries on how to start a start-up and become entrepreneurs.

Momas Metering School (MMS) which is a centre for vocational skills acquisition in meter installations, energy meter management and audit, etc, is a subsidiary of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, MEMMCOL. 

The center was established in 2018 to train young engineers, technicians and artisans to possess necessary skills sets to address meter management, installation issues and problems in power sector.

The training covered tuition, accommodation, feeding, personal protective equipment (PPE), customized tools bag with tools, course materials as well as extra-curricular activities, which was sponsored by the Commission.

Indeed, the training is beneficial to the North East and is in line with the Commission’s commitment to help reduce unemployment and increase skilled labour and workforce in the North East as well as the Commission’s mandate regarding human capacity development as a tool for eradicating poverty in the North East.

NEDC Empowers 150 Youths To Bridge 8m Metering Gap

At the graduation of the student at the weekend, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, MD/CEO, of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali expressed happiness at the successful conclusion of the 3 month programme on metering and electrical installations training.

Alkali, was particularly impressed by the collective interest of youths, which he said was an eloquent demonstration of their sincerity to learn livelihood skills and move the North East as a region forward. 

The MD, represented at the ceremony by Hajia. Fatima Ciroma, head education unit of the Commission, said that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) engaged the services of Momas Metering School (MMS) to train 150 youths from the North East on the theory, practical skills and regulations of Energy Meters Installations and Electrical Building Installations as part of its Youth Empowerment Program.

The training specifically, he stated aims to produce certified installers and technicians for electricity meter installations to meet the demand of Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) as approved by the Federal Government. Beyond the technical aspect of the training, the module also trained students on how to start a start-up and become entrepreneurs.

The training, is beneficial to the North East and is in line with the Commission’s commitment to help reduce unemployment and increase skilled labour and workforce in the North East as well as the Commission’s mandate regarding human capacity development as a tool for eradicating poverty in the North East.

The Commission’s collaboration with the MOMAS training school covered tuition, accommodation, feeding, upkeep, personal protective equipment (PPE), customized tools bag with tools, course materials as well as extra-curricular activities whilst the training school provided the technical component.

“The 150 participants were drawn from the 6 north east states to attend the training. Even though we are graduating 149 trainees here today, we are immensely impressed that all of you here remained steadfast and received valuable knowledge that will assist you in your future. 

“I implore all of you graduating today to go back home and utilise the skills you have learnt. You have all become certified electricians and I’m sure the demand for electrical services would never be limited in your various communities. 

“However, let me appeal to you, show honesty, hard work and commitment in all that you are involved in so that your growth and development will be limitless. It is my dream for you that in the next couple of years, some of you may be running your own electrical businesses and be your own employers of labour.” Alkali charged them.

He said that Commission’s presence at the event was a clear evidence of its collective agreement that this capacity building is a form of training needed to improve the capacity and skills of our youths to enable them make forms of livelihoods for themselves. 

He said the NEDC is committed to all initiatives that can facilitate the redevelopment and revitalization of the North East, adding, “The key to recovery in the North East lies in the quality of human resource the North East is able to produce in the long term. Our hope lies in you our Youths.” He specifically commended the Management of the MMS as well as its affiliate partners involved in making this program a success.