Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State recently supported the engagement of 39 young artisans for an overseas job placement programme in Belarus – an action already described as phenomenal in the history of the ‘food basket’ State and the country.
At the heart of this laudable and groundbreaking scheme lies the valuable opportunity for these artisans to gain exposure to world-class construction skills and practices, which they can ultimately bring back to enhance Nigeria’s domestic capabilities, particularly in Benue State.
Under the Federal Government-sponsored programme, the selected youths, while in the Eastern European nation, will be offered decent employment as part of Nigeria’s deliberate effort to position itself in the global labour market and to link skilled Nigerian workers with international job opportunities safely and sustainably.
Stakeholders have widely welcomed the initiative, which kick-off from a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria’s National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Belarus, focusing on transferring skills and technology to Nigerian workers and enabling them to gain international work experience.
Interestingly, Benue State appears to be the first State that has met the sponsorship requirements, a step described as a strong commitment and demonstration by the Governor Alia administration to supporting artisans and youths in the State. Benue therefore, leads the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in realization of a targeted expansive and inclusive project for the youths.
For the Benue State Government, the recent opportunity provided for the 39 artisans aligns clearly with the State’s several other policy initiatives targeted at the youth, including an already launched comprehensive scheme focused on youth employment through digital empowerment and skill development.
According to Governor Alia, his administration is creating over 100,000 digital jobs aimed at tackling youth unemployment by equipping young people with skills in digital literacy, software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship.
Among such programmes are the Benue Summer Tech Training for children and the “One Student, One Computer, One Digital Skill+” initiative, which provides students with tablets and access to digital learning resources.
NewsQuest’s investigation revealed that Governor Alia also approved the recruitment of 253 youths for the Benue State Digital Infrastructure Services Management Enforcement Agency (BENDISMEA), an initiative that is positioned to provide significant employment opportunities in the tech sector.
Other interventions by the administration targeting the youth are the United Nations Volunteer Scheme – which is providing ICT training for 10,000 youths as well as the establishment of a Fashion Hub that fosters a new generation of fashion entrepreneurs in Benue State.
Technical Adviser on Media, Communication, and Strategy to the Benue State Governor Solomon Iorpev confirmed that these efforts are designed to boost digital infrastructure, stimulate local economies, enhance digital literacy, and create pathways for economic diversification through e-commerce, freelancing, and startups.
“His Excellency, Governor Alia is one leader who believes strongly in the concept of youth empowerment, innovation, and harnessing the full potentials of Benue’s youth to drive sustainable economic development,” Iorpev said.
It is not surprising that in celebrating the 2024 International Youth Day celebration, Governor Alia himself, emphasized that “I am proud of the strides some of you are making in various fields such as education, entrepreneurship, sports, and technology. Your innovation and creativity continue to inspire hope and confidence in the future of our great state and the nation in general.
“As your government, we are fully committed to ensuring that your potential is harnessed, and your dreams are realized. We understand that the development of our youth is a panacea for the development of Benue State. This is why we have embarked on several initiatives aimed at empowering you and creating opportunities for your growth.”
Beneficiary artisans from the Benue State contingent include persons with skilled trades such as tailoring, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, welding, shoemaking, leatherwork, and possibly other crafts like pottery, weaving, and metalwork.
In the words of the Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Silas Agara – the 39 deployed artisans to Belarus have no choice but to abide strictly by the terms of engagement. While working in Eastern European nation, the artisans would be remitting a token of N300,000 monthly to support their families back home and an undisclosed amount to a revolving account, ensuring that the benefits of the programme extend to their dependents and other indigenes of the State.
Another interesting component of the overseas job placement programme is that these selected youths are being considered as ambassadors who will also become change agents for the Renewed Hope Agenda as driven by the President Bola Tinubu administration, which seeks comprehensive reform of the Nigerian economy.
The overseas job placement scheme clearly offers significant long-term benefits for the Benue State local economy by facilitating skills and technology transfer.
Obviously, the advanced skills and expertise these artisans gain abroad will be returned home to strengthen local industries and craftsmanship, driving productivity and innovation in Benue’s artisanal and manufacturing sectors.
If properly harnessed, the overseas job placement programme will also bolster the Benue State government’s broader economic goals to revive and industrialize the state.
Governor Alia deserves commendation for his visionary insight in embracing this strategic plan, which holds great promise for the future leadership of the ‘food basket’ State, regardless of political views.
