By Jabali Digital
Over 1,000 young people gathered at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on Friday for the National Youths Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) validation exercise, a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering youth through business training and financial support.
Speaking during the event, Carren Achieng Ageng'o, Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for children services at the ministry for gender, culture and children services said the exercise was necessitated by the need to prove that all the youth who registered online are genuine, available and ready to benefit from the NYOTA program.
Flanked by Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo and other national government officers, the PS, a native of Kisumu assured the applicants that 70 youth will be selected per ward, with a 50-50 gender balance to ensure equal representation of men and women.
“The aptitude test is being done through your phone, and as you answer the questions, a system is evaluating whether you can do business or not. And once this exercise is done, then you will get notification whether you are successful or not,” said the PS.
The exercise, she added prioritises persons with disabilities, giving them a chance to enhance their enterprises through business support.
Successful applicants will each receive Sh50, 000 with over 100,000 young people expected to benefit across the country. The government is partnering with the World Bank to make it “a dream come true” for the young people.
“Let us not take this money just to consume it,” the PS urged. “Let it be seed capital that transforms your life.”
Successful candidates will be notified upon completion of the evaluation process, before undergoing business skills training ahead of the Sh50,000 disbursement.
Missing out on the Sh50,000 grant, the PS noted will not be the end of the world stating that the government continues to roll out various employment and empowerment programs, targeting youth and persons living with disabilities.
“The government is very concerned about youth unemployment,” she said. “NYOTA is one of several initiatives aimed at ensuring young people have access to meaningful work and business opportunities,” added Ageng’o.
Some of the youth who turned up for the exercise among them Peter Juma from Nyalenda expressed their gratitude, outlining how they would utilize the funds if successful.
“I thank the government for this program. If I get the Sh50, 0000 I will open a business so that I can develop myself,” he concluded.
Before arriving at Moi, the PS was in Muhoroni after which she visited Kisian market for the same exercise.
