The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has commended 700 Nigerian youths who successfully completed the Ministry's Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Boot Camp held at the Metallurgical Training Institute (MTI), Onitsha, Anambra State.
The boot camp, which concluded over the weekend, is the first of its kind organised by the Ministry. It focused on building practical skills for young Nigerians in areas critical to the country's industrial development. The training covered welding and fabrication, industrial foundry, metallurgy, instrumentation, control systems, and metallurgical maintenance.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Prince Audu said the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at creating jobs, empowering youths and reviving strategic sectors of the economy.
"When we launched this initiative, our goal was simple yet profound—to empower young Nigerians with the practical skills and knowledge that will enable them to become productive contributors to the steel and metals sector and, by extension, our national economy," he said.
According to the Minister, the programme recorded over 225,000 applications for just 700 available slots, reflecting growing interest among young Nigerians in technical and vocational opportunities. He urged the graduates to see the training as the beginning of their journey into entrepreneurship and national impact.
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"As you receive your starter packs today, let them symbolise not an end but a new beginning. The Ministry will continue to monitor your progress and is open to supporting viable ventures that may emerge from among you," Audu added.
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, lauded the initiative, describing it as complementary to the state's industrialisation agenda. He encouraged beneficiaries to take advantage of state-level grants and credit facilities.
Also present at the event was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, represented by his aide, Chief Ethelbert Nwachukwu. He described the programme as a practical response to youth unemployment and urged the Federal Government to make the boot camp a yearly intervention.
"As Chairman of the 10th Senate Committee on Steel Development, I will work to ensure that the programme is backed by legislation and provided for in subsequent national budgets," he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, said the boot camp represents a bold step towards job creation and sectoral reform. He described the closing ceremony as a "launchpad" for future entrepreneurs and industry leaders.
"This is more than a graduation ceremony; with your certificates and starter packs, you are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to the nation's economic transformation," Isokpunwu said.
Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Lizzy Okoji, disclosed that participants were drawn from all 36 states and the FCT through a transparent and merit-based process. She added that beyond technical training, the youths also received mentorship and exposure to real-world challenges in the metals sector.
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