Murmushi People’s Development Foundation (MPDF) is implementing the Adamawa Youth Employment & Skills Development Program to respond to persistent youth unemployment and economic vulnerability across Adamawa State. With nearly 20% of young people not in education, employment, or training, many youths lack the skills, capital, and structures needed to earn sustainable incomes.

Building on MPDF’s proven 2024 vocational empowerment model, the Foundation proposes to train and economically empower 3,600 youths across 17 Local Government Areas over a 24-month period. The program uses a community-embedded apprenticeship approach, where small groups of youth are attached to experienced local master trainers for six months of hands-on skills development in market-relevant trades.

Unlike conventional training programs, MPDF’s model prioritizes long-term sustainability over short-term support. Graduates are organized into registered cooperative groups, supported to open bank accounts, and provided with fully equipped business shops rather than individual starter packs. This approach prevents asset loss, promotes collective responsibility, and ensures that trained youth transition directly into income-generating activities.

Through this initiative, MPDF aims to strengthen youth livelihoods, reduce economic desperation, and contribute to safer, more resilient communities in Adamawa State by supporting youth-led enterprises that can grow beyond the project lifecycle.