The National Youth Authority (NYA) in collaboration with MTN Ghana has trained 40 young persons to improve their skills for sustainable economic empowerment and independence.

The training, formed part of annual celebration of MTN 21 days of Yello Care, which seeks to empowering youth entrepreneurs towards promoting economic development.

The three weeks training, which ended on Friday honed the skills of the young persons in make-ups and wig cups making, beads making, online digital marketing and entrepreneurship among others.

The programme was celebrated on the theme: “Creating a brighter future for our youth”.

The Territory Sales Controller, Mr Obed Adu Amankwah, indicated that the youth were not only regarded as future leaders but the greatest investment for the country’s development and that could only happen if the youth were adequately empowered as agents for development.

The International Labor Organisation (ILO) 2017 report confirms that youth unemployment was at 4.9 per cent indicating that unemployment menace among youth in Ghana was as a result of skills deficit.

“It is therefore important to empower the youth with employable skills because they are the backbone of the nation and they need the support of corporate Ghana in that regard,” Mr Amankwa said.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NYA, Mr Bright Acheampong, said the organization had equipped over 3000 youth with employable skills on online digital marketing and entrepreneurship training nationwide.

He urged beneficiaries of the programme to make good use of the internet and social media to market their products and services.

The Acting Upper West Regional Director of NYA, Mr Archibald Donkoh expressed the hope that beneficiaries of the training would exhibit seriousness and commitment and add more value to their trades.

He said the NYA would continuous to empower the youth to help reduce the rate of poverty and enhance economic development.

Source: GNA