Youth
At least 400 youth from Nyandarua County have accomplished a four-months training programme in various courses that will equip them with skills to start income-generating ventures in the area.
The programme is being implemented by the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) via Equity Group’s INEET programme and in collaboration with the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) and the Nyandarua National Polytechnic.
According to Nyandarua County Women Representative Faith Gitau, the training will equip the unemployed youths with skills on e-commerce, online jobs, savings and investment.
Speaking during a fete to award the beneficiaries with Certificates of accomplishment in Ol-Kalou town, the MP underscored the need for young people to embrace technical courses adding that it will serve them better in being job creators and not job seekers.
Gitau said that the programme is tailor-made to target youth who are not in any learning institution and trained but are yet to get gainful employment. She noted that many young people lacked avenues where they can get such skills due to lack of financial resources but with the support from NGAAF, they now have a reason to regain their well-being and uplift their livelihood.
Gitau emphasized the need to support the government in order to enable it to achieve such initiatives meant to empower young people.
The program, dubbed NGAAF INEET, seeks to equip young people with essential skills in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and trading, with the ultimate goal of transitioning them into successful entrepreneurs and active contributors to the local economy.
Gitau highlighted the program’s transformative potential saying that it will transform the youths’ future. “It’s about more than just training; it is a commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial skills and fostering economic growth,” she said.
The NGAAF INEET program specifically targets young people who are not in the education sector, employment, or training (NEET), providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to start and grow their own businesses.
Some of the unique feature of the program is the provision of post-graduate grants for the most promising business ideas, designed to ensure that the entrepreneurial momentum built during the training continues to flourish.
In addition, the program is a collaborative effort between NGAAF and the Equity Group Foundation, under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Kenya initiative. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to creating opportunities for youth and fostering sustainable economic development across the country.