PIND, Bayelsa partner to bridge skills gap in oil, ICT, blue economy

​The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has formalised a strategic partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Youth Development to scale its flagship Youth Employment Pathways (YEP) program.

​The collaboration, cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed Wednesday in Yenagoa, seeks to tackle unemployment by aligning vocational training with actual market demand.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Ogbemi Daibo, highlighted the importance of aligning skills development with industry needs. “The YEP model bridges the gap between skills acquisition and employment outcomes. Through this partnership, we are strengthening systems that will enable young people in Bayelsa to access meaningful economic opportunities,” he said.

He said the YEP program adopts an integrated, market-led approach that combines technical skills training, employability development, and private sector engagement. Across the Niger Delta, the program has already supported over 14,000 youths in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, building construction, renewable energy, and services.

In Bayelsa State, the initiative will focus on priority sectors identified through a Labor Market Assessment, including agriculture, ICT, building construction, services, marine and blue economy, automobile, and oil & gas.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Youth Development, Bayelsa State, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, noted that the collaboration aligns with the state’s commitment to youth empowerment and economic growth.

Under the partnership, the program is expected to train approximately 650 youth in its first year, and to reach up to 2,000 youths within two years, strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and improve job placement and enterprise outcomes.

This partnership reinforces the role of public-private collaboration in tackling youth unemployment and positions Bayelsa State as a key part of PIND’s ongoing expansion to scale inclusive economic opportunities across the Niger Delta.