An estimated 2,100 young people drawn from the 30 wards of Mandera County, are expected to benefit directly from National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Empowerment Program launched Monday.
The State Department for National Government Coordination (SDNGC), Principal Secretary (PS), Ahmed Ibrahim, presided over the official launch of the Program in the County in line with the directive from President William Samoei Ruto.
The PS Ibrahim urged leaders, development partners and community champions to play an active role in mobilizing and sensitizing young people at the grassroots level to seize the one-week application opportunity for the programme.
The PS further urged the youth to take full advantage of the initiative and apply in large numbers, noting that the program presents a great opportunity to empower and uplift young people.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering youth economically and socially, noting that such programs are key to addressing unemployment and fostering sustainable development in the region.
The NYOTA Program is part of the government’s broader initiative to promote inclusivity, fairness, and transparency, through collaboration between the National and County administrations.
Nationwide, the program targets to transform the lives of 100,000 young Kenyans, with each ward set to benefit 70 youth who will receive a Sh 50,000 grant to establish small-scale enterprises.
90,000 more youth will undergo skills development and job training under qualified professional trainers, to enhance their employability and entrepreneurship capacity.
The launching ceremony brought together senior county government officials, community and religious leaders, youth representatives, and national government departmental heads.
