By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has partnered with Mainstream Academy, a subsidiary of Mainstream Energy Solution, to provide an eight-week skills training program for 50 electrical technicians across the North-East Zone. 

The announcement was made by the Commission’s Managing Director/CEO during the opening ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters on September 14, 2023.

The training is part of the NEDC’s ongoing effort to address development challenges in the region and create employment opportunities for young people. Trainees, upon success completing the program, will be automatically employed by Yola Electric Distribution Company (YEDC).

The initiative comes in the wake of the federal government’s unbundling of the power sector and the subsequent retrenchment of aging personnel from the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), creating a need for skilled labor in the area.

“The Commission intends to leverage this and partner with the Mainstream Academy to enhance the skills of the unemployed youth with prerequisite qualifications and fill the existing vacancies in the zone,” said the NEDC CEO, Goni Alkali. 

The NEDC has been working with stakeholders in the public and private sectors to improve technical skills among unemployed youths in North Eastasto to prepare them for the knowledge-based economy and to occupy vacancies in emerging industries in the region.

NEDC Director, Musa Yashi, had earlier provided further details about the collaboration, explaining that the program involved two weeks of classwork and six weeks of practical training. Successful candidates were selected through an aptitude test conducted by a consultant engaged by the Commission.

“The training program was publicized to the public through the Commission’s state offices within the zone and interested participants applied for the course,” Yashi explained. 

The Mainstream Academy will handle logistics such as transportation, feeding, accommodation, and training kits based on the funding of NEDC.

The CEO urged participants to focus on the training and avoid social victo to secure a job and improve their lives. He also expressed optimism for further collaborations with Mainstream Energy Solution that will benefit the youth and the overall development of the North-East.

Chief Executive of NEDC, Usman Umar, said his firm offers automatic shareholding status for its employees as such the trainees would upon successful completion of the programme be accorded the same privilege. 

Mr Umar said the training for the 50 selected youths is part of the Mainstream Academy allows the company to pay back to society, and also “to significantly contribute to the growth and well-being of our community.” 

The participants, all males from  Borno, Gombe, and Taraba states of northeast Nigeria were selected as the first batch, while a second batch of would be selected from Bauchi and Adamawa states.