National Directorate of Employment ( NDE) says that it has commenced the training of 1470 indigenes of Nasarawa State on different skills acquisition programmes.
This, the agency said, was to tackle unemployment which has resulting into violent crimes, kidnappings, thurgery and other crimes in the country.
Mr Silas Ali Agara, the NDE Director General, stated this during the flag off of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative by the NDE in Collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation today in Lafia.
The DG, who was represented by Mr Fagbemi Joshua Sunday, the Nasarawa State NDE Coordinator, said that the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is the agency’s modest short terms effort at checking the scourge of unemployment in Nigeria
” The current employment initiative has been designed to engage a total of 93,731 unskilled and unemployed persons across Nigeria. Inclusiveness has been a cardinal consideration as we designed this programme.
” We have ensured that a minimum of 10 persons from each of the 8,809 electoral wards in Nigeria were recruited to benefit from the 30 skill sets across our four core programmes of Vocational Skills Development, Small Scale Enterprises, Rural Employment Promotion and Special Public Works.
” 10 unemployed persons from each of the 147 wards of the 13 LGA of Nasarawa State.
” 1,470 indigenes of the state will be lifted from the labour market, trained and empowered in Vocational Skills, Entrepreneur skills Development and activities in the special public sector of the state economy,” he said
Agara said that after the training a good number of the beneficiaries will be resettled into productive entrepreneurial lives through the provision of tools, equipment and startup capital.
” NDE under my watch has ensured the adoption of cutting edge technology in the design and execution of this programme For instance, all applicants registered through our online portal which has enabled us to establish for the first time, a credible database of our beneficiaries.
” In furtherance of the deployment of ICT in our operations, I am delighted to inform you that 40,000 out of the 93,731 persons enrolled in this programme will be receiving training in ICT and digital skills,” he added
He also appreciated Minister of Labour and Employment, Mallam Muhammad Maigeri Dingyadi, Ph.D, for the support the agency is enjoying from the minister.
” Similarly, the Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Employment and Supervising Minister of the NDE, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, Ph.D, OON, has provided the enabling environment for us to discharge our mandate creditably,” he added.
The DG thanked the management and staff who have labored tirelessly and consistently in the last 4 months towards making the programme a reality.
On his part, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NDE, Mr Fagbemi Joshua Sunday, represented by Mr Hassan Shuaibu Gimba, the NDE Head of Small Scale Enterprises in the State said the event was the directorate strategy to actualize her vision of “Jobs for all” in Nasarawa State and the country at large.
” Through skills acquisition training in the informal sector of the state.
“As we all know, the scourge of unemployment and poverty is manifest in our homes, villages, towns and cities with its related social vices resulting into violent crimes, kidnappings, thurgery.
“And other heinous crimes that continue to threat every social fabric of our collective existence as a people.
“The schemes initiative training focused at various categories of unemployed persons such as youth, graduates, non-graduates, school leavers, school drop outs, women, people living with disabilities, retirees in both private and public sectors,” he said.
He said that some of the participants will be resettled with starter packs as well as loan facilities to enable the participants practices their skills business.
The State Coordinator called on individuals, Local governments, NGO’s and interested partners to collaborate with the directorate to eliminate the prevalence of unemployment in the state.
” May I at this point appreciate the executive governor of Nasarawa State His Excellency Engr. A. A. Sule for the warm reception he accorded the NDE Director General His Excellency, Silas A. Agara during his recent official “home coming visit to the state.
” And also appreciate the Governor resolve to collaborate with the directorate to generate employment and reduce poverty in Nasarawa State
The NDE State Coordinator also thanked the NDE Director General for his vision in the implementation of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCON NDE renewed hope employment initiative to reduce unemployment in Nigeria.
In their goodwill messages, Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd) , represented by Ubangari Lafia, Mr Usman Isa Baba, Barr Muhammad Ubandoma Aliyu , the SSG, Nasarawa State, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political, Alhaji Abubakar Isa Abdullahi , Mrs Mojisola Imosun, Nasarawa State Coordinator, National Productivity Centre, Lafia Office, among others commended NDE for the gesture.
They said that the gesture would go a long way in tackling unemployment, youths reactiveness, idleness as well as would create wealth in the state and the country at large.
Responding, Mr Agbo Christopher, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries appreciated NDE for the gesture and promised to take their training serious.