NYEP LAUNCHES ICT MODULE IN WA (PAGE 20, FEB 23, 2010)

THE Information Communications Technology (ICT) module under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) has been launched in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, with a call on the youth in the area to take advantage of the initiative to better their lot.
According to the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, the programme was among other interventions initiated by the government to assist the beneficiaries to overcome their economic problems.
Launching the programme, the regional minister said the introduction of the ICT module sought to meet the hopes and aspirations of the nation's young people for them to be able to play their rightful roles in society.
He said the NYEP had so far employed 110,796 youth in the region, while over 800,000 youth had been registered nationwide, but were yet to be placed on the programme.
Mr Khalid said a total of 69,474 beneficiaries were currently on the programme's payroll.
He commended rLG communications, the organisation in charge of the ICT module, for its innovation and creativity which had led to the assembling of mobile telephones in the country.
The Deputy National Co-ordinator of the NYEP, Mr Ibrahim Alhassan, hinted that as part of efforts at promoting entrepreneurship among the youth in the country, a business proposal initiative would soon be implemented under the NYEP.
That, Mr Alhassan explained, would include selection of individual youth who would be trained and assisted with seed funds, logistics and also be mentored to set up their own businesses.
“A business development and advisory unit will also be commissioned as part of the NYEP so that any youth with the intention of setting up his or her own business could be assisted through counselling, support and mentoring,” he stated.
Mr Alhassan called on all stakeholders, including donor partners and NGOs to support the initiative.
The Project Co-ordinator of rLG Communications, Mr Fred Adetola, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
He was hopeful that the ICT project would soon expand and lead to the creation of many job opportunities for more young people across the country.