The North East Development Commission (NEDC) says it will continue to prioritise programmes that will create employment for young people in the region.
The Managing Director of the commission, Mr Mohammed Alkali stated this on Tuesday when he received the Minister of State for Youth Development Mr Olawande Ayodele, in Abuja.
Alkali said youth development is critical in the 10-year strategic Masterplan of NEDC in order to tackle the devastating impact of Boko Haram insurgency in the region.
According to him, the 15 years of boko haram insurgency in the North-East had negatively affected the education system and left the sector in dire need of intervention.
‘”Over 70 per cent of school teachers were killed in Borno State alone during the Boko Haram crises, because of the ideology that western education is forbidden.
“The NEDC has taken steps by recruiting more teachers to fill-in the gap, because we believe education is key to addressing societal ills” he said.
Alkali added that the commission had been making effort to engage some of the repentant members of the boko haram insurgents through vocational training after they had been deradicalised.
The MD noted that the comprehensive masterplan included, Youth in Agriculture, Commerce, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which young people were trained and empowered.
“The commission will continue to support young people to achieve their full potentials in the region.
“in other to address their educational needs we have built 18 mega schools and 18 ICT vocational training centres in each Senatorial District across the region-.
“So far, 40,000 young men and women have graduated from the centres, some are employed by government agencies while others are self employed,” he said
Earlier, the Minister told the Managing Director that, the essence of the visit was to seek collaboration and strengthen mechanism in engaging young population in the region.
Ayodele expressed worry over the growing population of young people that engaged in drug abuse.
He said the ministry would partner the NEDC to champion the campaign against drug abuse to the community level.
The Minister commended the NEDC for initiating various youth intervention programmes through its strategic masterplan.
(NAN)
