The Ijesa Development Council (IDC) has extended the deadline for its multi-million Naira Ijesa Vocational & Entrepreneurship Training Program (IVETP) to October 31, 2024, giving eligible institutions more time to apply for grants aimed at empowering Nigerian youths.
The IVETP, designed to tackle skill gaps in Ijesaland’s economy, invites vocational and entrepreneurial training providers to submit a three-page pre-proposal. The program, which targets local youths, aims to equip them with skills that will boost their employability and entrepreneurial success.
IDC President, Supo Shadiya, emphasized that the initiative reflects the council’s commitment to addressing the economic challenges facing Ijesaland. “We are calling on institutions and organizations with the capacity to train in core vocational and entrepreneurship domains to submit their expressions of interest,” Shadiya said in a statement.
The grants will be awarded through a block grant model to institutions that demonstrate strong training capacity, job placement support, and a commitment to the core industries identified by IDC. Training locations are expected to be spread across the six local government areas in Ijesaland to ensure broad reach.
Dr. Adewale Alonge, a member of the IVETP steering committee, announced the extension to encourage wider participation. “We’ve decided to give interested organizations additional time to prepare their proposals. The new deadline is October 31, 2024,” Alonge explained.
Eligible organizations include post-secondary institutions, training centers, trade groups, non-profits, and local chambers of commerce. The pre-proposals will be evaluated by a team of experts based on the organization’s training capacity, cost-sharing ability, and the relevance of the proposed courses.
To apply, interested parties can submit their pre-proposals via the IDC website at idcijesa.org or email their submissions to [email protected]. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit full proposals.
This initiative aligns with IDC’s long-term vision of fostering economic growth by providing critical vocational training and entrepreneurial support to Nigeria’s next generation of business leaders.
