In a significant move to empower youths in the region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched an internship scheme aimed at benefiting 10,000 young individuals from the nine states in the Niger Delta region. This initiative is designed to equip them with the essential training and experience needed for gainful employment and to prepare them for self-employment through entrepreneurship.

This follows Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s announcement of President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a monthly stipend of N50,000 for 10,000 youths in the Niger Delta to alleviate current economic hardships. The announcement was made at the Niger Delta Sensitisation Conference for ethnic nationalities, youths, and women in Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the launch event in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the Board, Barr.  Chiedu Ebie, assured that the NDDC was dedicated to advancing the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda and impactful youth programmes. Ebie stated that the age limit for the Youth Internship Program would be for applicants below  45 years.

The NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku (PhD), affirmed that entrepreneurial and skills enhancement were key components for unlocking the potential of the youths in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku stated that the Internship Scheme and other youth programmes of the NDDC were carefully thought out and included in the Commission’s 2024 budget, noting that it was not a reaction to the protests in other parts of the country. He noted that the scheme will also develop metrics for its impact on the economy of the Niger Delta region as admission to the scheme will be highly competitive and driven by merit.

Ogbuku observed that the scheme would empower the benefitting youths in the areas of technology, music and arts, agriculture, and marine, among others. During the 12-month period of the internship, each intern would receive a stipend of N50,000 per month. He also urged those who would benefit from the programme to set a good example for future beneficiaries, stressing that the registration would be done exclusively online only through the Commission’s website.The NDDC boss said that all the nine NDDC states would have 500 slots before the application of the oil production quota for the remaining slots.

Giving details of the Internship Scheme, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that placing youths on internship roles will allow them to enhance their technical skills and acquire practical experience to make them self-reliant. He explained further that each applicant will be encouraged to identify a specific place of internship while the scheme will match them to prospective businesses that will help them to enhance their skills.

Describing the Internship Scheme as a significant milestone in the ongoing quest for progress and prosperity in the Niger Delta region, Antai urged all beneficiaries “to seize this opportunity with both hands and use it to fuel their passion to learn, to groom, and to give back to our communities.” According to him, the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme is not merely a financial intervention but a symbol of the Commission’s commitment to nurturing and empowering the next generation.

To ensure the progress of the initiative, a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Framework will be instituted for the scheme to measure success and provide learning outcomes which will be reported to the general public and stakeholders with full transparency. The scheme will measure success by the percentage of interns who are women, the percentage of interns who successfully transition into full-time jobs, the percentage of interns who attain improved employability, the percentage of interns who successfully transition to entrepreneurship, and the percentage of interns on the entrepreneurship path who are able to access commercial funding.

Applicants will be required to include a personal statement in their application reflecting their commitment to meet the objectives of the program and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region. The scheme will accommodate young people across different levels of education and experience.

To Apply Visit: https://ndlink.org/jobs/2024-nddc-youth-internship-scheme-for-nigerian-students/