LESDEP equips 1,253 youths in Upper west with employable skills

A total of 6,300 youth have been registered to participate in the Local Enterprises and Skills Development programme (LESDEP) in the Upper West Region.

Out of the number, 1,253 have been equipped with employable skills to enable them to create permanent employment.

The region is expected to train 2000 youth in dressmaking, hairdressing, barbering, catering services, mobile phone repairs and transportation by the end of this year.

The LESDEP, which was established, last year, is a private-public initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to register, train and equip beneficiaries to set up their own businesses.

At a graduation ceremony at Wa on Thursday, 451 trainees of LESDEP were presented with working tools and kits, including, sewing machines, embroidery machines, mobile phone repair kits, gas cylinders, ice chests, sterilizers, hair dryers, motor trolleys and tricycle vans.

Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf, asked LESDEP to institute effective tracking system to enable it to follow the progress of beneficiaries, and to offer them advice and support if necessary.

“The whole concept of LESDEP must be seen as a process and the training programme provided should not just be an event which ends with passing out ceremonies,” he said.

Alhaji Sulemana said the LESDEP graduates should be encouraged to enter into partnerships and form groups to enable them to pool resources and plan for their future development.

He advised the beneficiaries to serve as role models and be source of hope their colleagues, who could not make it to school to attain academic achievements.

Mr. Bokunuba Amatus Bandy, Upper West Regional coordinator of LESDEP, said the programme was laudable and encouraged the youth to take advantage of it to acquire skills to improve their living standards.

He said the LESDEP provides administrative support such as project reports, market surveys and monitoring of the usage of training facilities.**