Some 268 young people in the Nadowli/Kaleo District are currently benefiting from the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) Skills Training Module, a programme designed to equip trainees with practical trades that enhance employability and foster self-employment.
The programme is delivered in partnership with the National Youth Authority (NYA) for some modules and several local training partners.
Apparel Production under YEA, supervised by African Industrial Solution (AIS), involves 13 master trainers and 55 trainees, while a separate garment-making stream run by Bondaana Investment & Trading Arena (BITA) has 4 master trainers overseeing 14 trainees. The NYA is also running its own garment-making stream with 8 master trainers and 40 trainees, expanding opportunities for fashion and textile skills in the district.
Weaving is offered through two parallel streams to meet local demand. Under YEA, seven master trainers are teaching 34 trainees, and an NYA stream mirrors this capacity with seven master trainers and 35 trainees.
These combined efforts aim to strengthen traditional craft skills alongside more formal apparel training, creating diverse pathways for income generation.
Construction and building-related trades are also well represented.
Carpentry training is being delivered in both YEA and NYA streams, albeit on a smaller scale, with one master trainer supporting three trainees under YEA and another trainer taking five under NYA. Tiling instruction involves two master trainers and seven trainees, while plumbing training is provided by one master trainer for three trainees. Painting and glazing are included too, with painting under YEA led by one master trainer and four trainees, and glazing taught by one master trainer to a single trainee.
Welding and fabrication courses run in tandem under YEA and NYA. The YEA stream deploys four master trainers for 14 trainees, and NYA supports two master trainers for 10 trainees, equipping young people with skills applicable to construction, manufacturing and repair services. Baking and culinary skills are also on offer, with baking taught by one master trainer to three trainees, and beauty-related trades including beauty care (one trainer, one trainee) and hairdressing delivered through both agencies — YEA’s hairdressing stream has four master trainers and 16 trainees, while NYA’s hairdressing stream involves one master trainer and five trainees.
The programme also includes electrical work and motorbiking skills that address local transport and services needs. Electrical training is taking place alongside motorbiking (Okada) training, which currently counts one master trainer and six trainees, preparing participants for motorcycle transport services common in the region. An Electronics module is additionally running with two master trainers and seven trainees.
Overall, the YEA skills training module in Nadowli/Kaleo is supported by 63 master trainers across the various streams.
Speaking to Yiri News, Remus Kpan, District Director for YEA, said the programme is part of government efforts to reduce poverty by developing marketable skills among youth. He added that additional recruitment into the skills training modules will follow when the government gives approval, ensuring more young people gain access to vocational opportunities.
Kpan urged current trainees to stay focused and committed throughout their courses so they can build strong reputations and secure clients after graduation.
