NGO Empowers 120 FCT Youths in Computer, Phone Repair Skills Under FG’s IDEAS-TVET Programme

By Sunday Abah, Abuja

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Givchris Global Services Limited, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education, and in collaboration with the World Bank, has commenced a skills training and empowerment programme for 120 youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aimed at equipping them with practical skills in computer hardware and mobile phone repairs to promote self-employment and reduce unemployment.

The initiative, implemented under the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, is designed to provide young people with marketable technical skills and opportunities to become economically independent.

Speaking on the initiative on Friday, in Kwali, Abuja, the Executive Director of Givchris Global Services Limited, Mr Christian Nwachukwu, said the programme was established by the Federal Ministry of Education, with funding support from the World Bank, to address youth unemployment by equipping participants with practical skills that could translate into sustainable livelihoods.

Nwachukwu explained that although the programme initially provided for the admission of 100 trainees, his company expanded the number to 120, with Givchris Global Services taking responsibility for the additional 20 participants.

“The training, which began in July and is expected to run for six months, targets young people between the ages of 12 and 30, with participants selected through an application, examination and interview process”.

He said the objective was to ensure that beneficiaries could secure employment or establish their own businesses after completing the training, rather than depend solely on formal academic qualifications.

He added that the programme would also provide opportunities for further practical experience, including possible internship placements, to enable participants to strengthen their technical knowledge and gain exposure to the workplace.

Some of the beneficiaries described the initiative as an opportunity to acquire skills, become financially independent and create alternative sources of income.

One of the trainees, Afo Patricia Ogbene, who recently completed her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), said she joined the programme after learning about the opportunity and developing an interest in computer hardware and mobile phone repairs.

Ogbene, who disclosed that the training was free, said she had acquired basic knowledge of troubleshooting and repairing mobile phones and computer hardware since the programme began.

She expressed hope of securing an internship after the training to improve her practical experience, adding that her long-term ambition was to establish a repair workshop within the next four years.

Another beneficiary, Gideon Martins Ishaya, a singer, pastor and minister, said he joined the programme to expand his knowledge and create additional opportunities for income generation.

According to him, acquiring technical skills was not just about earning money but also about developing the capacity to solve problems within society, particularly as mobile phones and computers had become essential tools in everyday life.

Similarly, Adego Keabela James, said the training had significantly improved his ability to identify and troubleshoot faults in computers and other devices.

James noted that the programme had reinforced his belief that practical skills were increasingly important alongside academic qualifications, expressing optimism that the training would enable him to become self-employed.

Another participant, Aminu Patience, who is aspiring to study nursing, said the skills would provide an additional means of supporting herself financially while pursuing her education.

She explained that the ability to repair phones and computers would help her earn income and reduce her dependence on others while studying.

Patience urged the federal government to extend similar empowerment initiatives to other parts of the country, noting that many young Nigerians were eager to benefit from practical skills training.

Also speaking, Victor Richards described the initiative as a positive intervention, saying it would help young people develop alternative sources of income and build sustainable careers.

He said equipping youths with practical skills would make them more economically stable and better positioned to contribute to society.

The IDEAS-TVET programme is part of efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, improve access to market-relevant skills *and* expand employment opportunities for young Nigerians.