Some 3,333 apprentices who were trained in dressmaking and hairdressing in the Ashanti Region have been graduated in the regional capital Kumasi. The venture is a collaboration between NYEP and Asongtaba Cottage Industries and Exchange Programme, a skills-development non-governmental organization to oversee the training of the youth especially women in various vocations and to ensure their economic independence and future security. The beneficiaries were presented with certificates and equipments to boost their vocation. In a speech read on his behalf by Mohammed Pelpuo, a Deputy National Coordinator of the NYEP, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Kofi Humado said a total of 10,255 beneficiaries have completed training in Hairdressing across the country. He said the NYEP was currently being transformed into a sustainable and a better funded employment agency. He said the goal was to train and setup in business at least five hundred thousand (500,000) Ghanaian youth before the close of 2012. He added “as a boost to our effort, the World Bank has agreed to finance the Programme’s Youth Enterprise Project. This will bring together youth groups and individuals who have brilliant business ideas or proposal to be supported and mentored and grow their businesses into sustainable ventures.” He charged the youth to take advantage of these initiatives and make life more fulfilling by working and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. He applauded the creativity of ACI&EP for making this splendid contribution towards the Better Ghana agenda of the government of Ghana. The Project Manager of Asongtaba Cottage Industries and Exchange Programme Bonosus Kanoseh said the project is being implemented in four stages which include the training segment under well experienced master trainers, Set-up, Recovery and Microfinance stage. Mr. Kanoseh said 10,255 hairdressing beneficiaries and 23,971 dressmaking beneficiaries with a master trainer population of about 5,200 are to be graduated nationwide before the end of October 2012. He expressed ACI&EP’s continuous commitment in partnering the NYEP to the upliftment of the youth of this country. The Mayor of Kumasi Samuel K. Sarpong who was the special guest of honour congratulated the beneficiaries and described the program as a massive opportunity for the country’s youth through skills training and development to enhance national growth and development. The Mayor was excited beneficiaries were recruited irrespective of their political background. Mr. Sarpong said it was important that the NYEP continue to receive the necessary support to boost its operations for the benefit of the country’s youth. He appealed to the beneficiaries to justify the trust reposed in their training by practicing their trade and serve as avenues to employ others. Other speakers at the ceremony including the Tafohene Nana Agyin Frimpong and the Ashanti Regional Coordination of the NYEP Nana Opoku-Worae entreated the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment they were receiving and encouraged them to use the knowledge imparted in them to improve their living conditions. The ceremony which took place at the Kumasi Cultural Centre was attended by Regional and District Coordinators of the NYEP, traditional rulers as well as management and staff of ACI&EP.