Youth unemployment is one of the most significant development challenges facing governments and development partners in Nigeria today. The country suffers from a “labor market trifecta” of jobless growth, an expanding population, and unemployable youth. Despite decades of reasonably steady economic growth, the Nigerian economy has not generated the jobs required to sustain its large…
’I am Dr. Nnnena Chikezie, the Permanent Secretary and the Executive Secretary of Abia State Planning Commission. Our collaboration with PIND in developing the Abia State long term plan was very demanding. It was equally a learning process and it gave us confidence that we were dealing with an organization that has strong technical strength to deliver. Even with the COVID-19, PIND kept pushing on, encouraging the State to go with the project. PIND gave us a project manager that would not stop until he got the target achieved. We had to adapt to the new normal and because there was every need to deliver the project on PIND’s part, they supported us in every way.
“The broodstock development program has contributed so much to our growth and we are getting good feedback from our clients. I must thank PIND for this program”
’My name is Uduak Etuk; I’m from Ekono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Currently, I’m a woodworker. I graduated with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration. After my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps), I have worked for several corporate bodies as an administrator, but I never saw the satisfaction in the job, so I had to stop. Then I picked up a form to start my post-graduate diploma, but along the line, there was no money for school fee, so I paused.
Then, I came across PIND online. I got to know about NDYEP on Facebook in a post that people will be screened on several skills, and I picked interest in woodwork. I was selected. And after the screening process, we proceeded to the training, which lasted for about six (6) months. The training has built me—technically, it has built me; and mechanically, it has built me. Currently, I’ve finished the training; I’m now doing my job.
‘’The entire team collectively prepared the proposal documents, following the grant writing standards taught during the mentorship. This helped us meet the donor project’s requirements as SEYP received a grant of EUR 45,000 from the Embassy. After that, we secured another grant of EUR 300,000 from the European Union (EU)/IOM, and the strength of staff has increased to 17 permanent staff,’’ explained the Chief Executive, Jennifer Ero.
The access-to-energy project works to develop access to affordable renewable energy for households and businesses to improve productivity, increase income, trigger new jobs, and improve the quality of life for the communities (SDG 7).
Smallholder farmers and MSMEs in the Niger Delta encounter difficulty getting funds from financial institutions because of several factors. These factors include inappropriate financial products for the agricultural value chains; perceived low productivity and competitiveness in financing the sectors; and the perceived risk associated with agricultural financing.
PIND’s approach to improving access to funds for smallholder farmers and MSMEs entails developing new, inclusive financial models built around the peculiarities of the agricultural and agro-allied sectors. To qualify for the funds and loans from commercial banks, MFBs, and equity investors, we encouraged a crop of BSPs (business service providers) to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs.
Our business linkages project assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region to become more competitive, productive, and diversified in their markets. They will reap higher income (through increased sales and profits) and create new jobs for people (through access to quality business support services, markets, and funding).
Our poultry-value-chain project is working to help poultry farmers and processors increase their productivity, sales, and income while generating new jobs by adopting good poultry farming and business practices—as well as access to extension services, quality inputs, funding, and markets.
Our palm oil-value-chain project helps smallholder palm oil farmers and processors increase their sales through the increased quantity and quality of their outputs. They earn more income; create new jobs by adopting best management practices; and access improved processing and harvesting technology, improved seedlings, funding, and market linkages.