By J, KNA
The government is working to make the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) programme more accommodative by replacing the term ‘aptitude test’ as a requirement for funding with a friendlier term.
State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, said most youths, especially in Nandi, are scared of taking aptitude tests because the term is not received positively as it is usually interpreted as rigorous and mentally taxing tests that anybody would be afraid to go through.
Belio said the government is encouraging and motivating the youth to apply for Nyota empowerment funds meant to change the lives of an estimated one million youths across the country.
“We have learnt that this term is not being interpreted positively by the youths as many have shied away from taking the test,” Belio said when he presided over Nyota sensitization forum held at the Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex in Kapsabet town.
He regretted that low turnout during the entrepreneurship aptitude test in Nandi despite huge application for Nyota funding could be attributed to the term ‘aptitude test’ which many are scared of taking.
The national rollout of the Nyota Project, a flagship youth empowerment initiative has officially kicked off in Nandi County, with leaders pledging to support its full implementation.
The program is a five-year initiative by the Government of Kenya in partnership with World Bank and other stakeholders. The main objective of the donor funded project is to equip over 820,000 youth across the country with entrepreneurship skills, work experience, and access to grants and savings schemes.
Dr Belio reiterated that Nyota directly benefits the residents of Nandi through generating several millions into the local economy through youth enterprise grants and training.
He further liked this initiative by the government to the nursery where ideas are birthed and brought to life saying the aim, is to help young people transition from job seekers to job creators.
“Applicants who are youth between the ages of 18 to 29 years and up to 35 years for those with disability, were taken through an Entrepreneurship Aptitude Test (EAT) which is done online as a step to assess potential entrepreneur`s mindset and readiness for starting a business.
Nandi county registered over 11,000 youth expressing interest in the program but only a few passed the test and will transition to the next phase” Dr Belio stated.
The Nyota Project brings together key agencies including NITA, MSEA, NEA, NSSF, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Close to one hundred National Government Administrative Officers and youths representatives from six Sub-Counties in Nandi were sensitized.
The NGAO team was led by Nandi Central Deputy County Commissioner Alfet Jilo.
Other key stakeholders present during the sensitization were Emgwen Member of Parliament Josses Lelmengit and Members of Nandi County Assembly (MCA).
These administrators in their speeches praised the project terming it as timely and transformative saying that it has come at a critical time when many young people are looking for sustainable income opportunities and that the youth have now been given a “a real chance to shine.”
They further pledged to take the sensitization drive to the grassroots level, mobilizing youth across all wards to apply for the grants and training opportunities under Nyota, with the aim of transforming their livelihoods and reducing unemployment in Nandi.