Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma has urged youth to join Vocational Training Centers to get skills that will help them earn a living.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 423 youths from Vocational Training Centers within Busia County, Otuoma said his administration is determined to ensure many youths have been equipped with technical skills.
“We are committed to providing training and technical skills to youth in our county to address unemployment and poverty rates,” he said, adding that the certification from National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) will enable them to be competitive in the job market.
Otuoma urged the graduates who have been under KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri Program to create more job opportunities for others through the new enterprises.
“The engine of transformation is entrepreneurship, encouraging self-reliance and employment to bring people on board and earn a living.” he said
Furthermore, the graduates will play a pivotal role in key initiatives such as using their skills to support Nasewa Integrated Agro-Processing Industrial Park and the Export Processing Zone.
The youth will drive the industrialization program in Nasewa County, providing necessary skills for Export Processing Zone and County Aggregated Industrial Park projects, from raw material production to end product production.
On the other hand, the governor at the same time advised them to be aggressive by taking any available opportunity so that they can use their skills to earn a living.
For instance, “Currently we are constructing 150 ECDE classrooms in the county. That is already an opportunity for those in that sector. Make sure you go and offer your skills in the project so that you can get money,” he said.
This achievement was made possible through a Sh35 million, three-year matching-fund partnership between the County government of Busia and the KCB Foundation’s 2Jiajiri Program, which has played a crucial role in preparing skilled, job-ready youth for the workforce.
The initiative also attracted 310 self-sponsored students who graduated and were certified with National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), making the total number of graduates to 733.
Millicent Otom from the National Industrial Training Authority insisted on the need for inclusion.
She said people living with disabilities should be given the opportunity to acquire skills too.
“Let us empower Odiado Vocational Rehabilitation Centre and empower our brothers and sisters who are disabled so that they get skills that will help them. To the parents of young people who are living with disabilities in this county, don’t hide them but take them for learning,” she said.
The graduates underwent rigorous training in various trades, including Solar Technology, Fashion Design, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Carpentry, Hair and Beauty, Food and Beverage and Mechanics.
By Rodgers Omondi
