NDE empowers 758 Nigerian youths on Vocational Skills, 1,110 in Community Based Business
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Director General, of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, has said it has empowered a total of 758 Nigerian youths across 18 states of the federation. selected from the six geo-political zones within March 2024. The beneficiaries were trained under their Vocational Skills Development, VSD.
Fikpo disclosed this during NDE special day at the ongoing 35th Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu, also disclosed that at the tail end of 2023, the Directorate under its Community-Based Business Training Scheme, CBBTS, empowered about 1,110 youths to set up their businesses to become employers of labour afterwards.
“Ladies and gentlemen, just recently, in March 2024, the Directorate empowered Seven Hundred and Fifty-Eight, 758 trained beneficiaries under its Vocational Skills Development, VSD in the eighteen states of the federation covering the six geo-political zones of the country.
“In like manner, 1,110 participants were empowered under the Community Based Business Training Scheme, CBBTS, towards the tail end of 2023; the breakdown was 30 per state and the FCT. The beneficiaries are empowered to set up individual micro-enterprises within their immediate localities where they will contribute to the economic growth of the nation and be self-reliant,” Fikpo said.
The NDE boss also said that apart from creating jobs for young Nigerians, they also create opportunities for them to gain access to the International business community to enhance the quality of their products and services.
He equally said that NDE assists their beneficiaries to form cooperation societies for mentorship and easy access to loans for business development.
His words: “The National Directorate of Employment over the years is committed to not only the mandate of creating jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians but also to the provision of excellent opportunities for our numerous beneficiaries to gain access to the International business community, enhance the quality of their products and services for effective growth in the business world.
“We are assisting our beneficiaries to form cooperative societies for mentorship and easy access to loans for business development,” he said.
Fikpo therefore encouraged Nigerians to patronise Nigerian products especially those produced by NDE beneficiaries to enable their personal growth and the economic growth of the country.
“Let me point out that only our committed patronage to their products and services would keep them in business as well as guarantee sustainable decent employment and economic growth.
“There is no better time to support and encourage the growth of local business initiatives than now that the Nigerian youths are making efforts to be self-employed. Our resolve to produce, buy and consume made in Nigeria Products will speedily promote the economy for national growth,” he appealed.
