NDE begins training of youths in Abia

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Wednesday, began a three-month job training scheme for 30 youths in Abia, aimed at making them self-reliant and job creators.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, known as Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) is designed to train the youths in flower decoration and tree planting.

They (youths) will also be trained in interlocking constructions and designs, Plaster of Paris (POP) construction and design, amongst other decorative jobs.

Addressing the trainees at the NDE secretariat in Umuahia, the Director-General, Malam Nuhu Fikpo, charged the 2022 set to utilise every opportunity provided by the training  in becoming self-reliant and job creators.

Fikpo, represented by the Abia Coordinator of NDE, Mr Chima Ibe, said that NDE was in the business of training youths in the state and other parts of the country in line with the job creation agenda of the Federal Government.

He urged the trainees to concentrate on their field studies, as unscheduled visits would be paid to them regularly to monitor those serious with the scheme and those who were not.

He said that the Federal Government had spent a huge sum of money in providing skills acquisition for the youths and other categories of unemployed persons.

“We will do our evaluation after discovering those who distinguished themselves during the three months training.

“We are going to be monitoring you. Abuja will also be monitoring you,” Fikpo said.

According to him, starter packs will be provided for those who are worthy and only those that are found worthy will be resettled.

Earlier in his address, the Head of Special Public Works Department, Mr Michael Ubani, explained that a one-week orientation programme was earlier organised for youths before the commencement of the training.

He explained that the trainings were in three categories, namely: soft, hard and POP.

Ubani said: “In soft category, we train them on how to use flowers, trees, plants and other ornamental materials to decorate the environment.

“In the hard category, we train them on how to use hard stones in making interlocking.

“They are also trained on how to install POP in buildings in POP category.”

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Mr Samuel Umoh, expressed gratitude to NDE for the skills acquisition programme and pledged to utilise the opportunities. (NAN)