Crafts Create Jobs Development Initiative Launches Entrepreneurship Boot Camp in Anambra to Address Unemployment, Youth Restiveness

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Crafts Create Jobs Development Initiative has launched a week-long entrepreneurship boot camp for youths in Anambra state.

Speaking at the flag off of the camp at the weekend in Awka, the state capital, the NGO’s Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, Dr. Harry Oranezi said the programme,first of its kind in the South East region will address rising unemployment in the country by training youths on various vocational skills and providing them with necessary support to make them self dependent.

Oranezi, a former House of Representatives member argued that entrepreneurship is the way out of the present economic downturn in the country and youth restiveness. He called on government at all levels to prioritise funding of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a panacea for unemployment.

He said, “there’s no euphemism which can obscure the dire economic condition of our country. The unemployment rate is above 18%,17.6% rate in ANAMBRA which grew from 15.7 % at 2017 and when you consider underemployment the situation because more severe. Minimum wage is N30,000 with inflation at 11.25%, the minimum wage is nothing but tissue paper. This means there’s mind boggling poverty all over the country and many can hardly feed their family.

“Despite shrinking economic jobs available, our tertiary institutions and other institutions keep churning out graduates in large numbers to the labour market. Unfortunately, over 80% of these graduates and those caught by the effects of unemployment are youths, the same youths who should carry this nation on their shoulders and into the next phase of development. Someone must do something to salvage us from the impending cul de sac.

“Entrepreneurship has been the next alternative, it has been preached by the government and in different medium – have an alternative skill and rely on it rather than search for jobs. Why the message is valid, the government has made no strenuous efforts to promote financial Independence through entrepreneurial brilliance and innovation, develop and/or create apposite platform to impact these skills to the youths who need it. This is what we intend to change in the next 7 days with crafts create jobs.”

The programme will train 1000 participants drawn from 21 local government areas of the state on varieties of skills such as, software development,web design,graphics and visuals,general computing hardware and repairs,phone repairs,security and car tracking, interior decoration, solar installation, solar repairs,solar panel manufacturing,painting and paint production.

Others include cinematography,wig making,embroidery,tailoring,shoe making,pedicure and manicure,auto mechanical repair,auto body repair,auto electrical repair,shopping bags production,wielding and fabrication,landscaping, tiling and POP construction.

Participants during accreditation

According to the NGO’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Frank Maduka, the boot camp taking place at the Federal Science and Technical College Awka is targeted at young people,male and female in secondary schools , 100 level and those awaiting admission. Participants will be trained at no cost including free accommodation and feeding.

Explaining further on the programme, the publicity officer, Ms Sharon Oparaocha said the initiative was youth driven, devoid of any government intervention.

She said, “The training is not theory, but practical based. On the 24th there would be exhibition, these young participants will display the skills they have learnt .

“At the end of the boot camp, they would be assigned to a particular trainer who is a professional in the skill set they chose and will continue to learn under the free learn a craft scheme sponsored by the organisation until they are certified fit to set up their own, and they would provided with all the equipments they would need.

“The exciting thing about this programme is that it is not funded or co-sponsored by any government, it is the brain child of a set of youths who feel that there is need for us to make our own seat since we are not offered a seat at the table. This idea is borne out of genuine interest to ensure that the younger ones do not fall into the dangers of unemployment and underemployment. Most importantly, no one will tell them that they are not employable.

“I tell you a child who has education , knowledge and skill is 60% successful.”