THE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has trained 191 unemployed youths in different skills in Nasarawa.
The beneficiaries were given loans and starter packs to establish their businesses and be self-reliant.
NDE Director-General (D-G) said at the resettlement of the trainees on Tuesday in Lafia that the gesture was carried out under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative of the Federal Government.
Agara, who was represented by Mr Ahmed Musa, Acting Director of Inspectorate Dept, NDE Headquarters Abuja, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items and the loans.
The D-G said that the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative was designed to create employment opportunities and support the establishment of viable and productive businesses.
“It is to help improve small-scale enterprises, promote agricultural infrastructure and provide transient jobs, which would in turn foster economic growth and empower our communities.
“This employment initiative is built on three core pillars: skills development, resettlement and job creation.
“The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative commenced on Dec. 6, 2024, while training of selected beneficiaries started on Dec. 9, 2024.
“Over the past three months, the directorate has successfully trained 33,692 unemployed Nigerian youths, women and persons living with disabilities.
“They are trained in vocational, entrepreneurship, business management and agricultural skills, among others.
According to him, the goal was to empower participants to become not only self-employed but also employers of labour.
“A total number of 5,532 beneficiaries will be resettled with loans and starter packs nationwide to enable the establishment of their own businesses.
“This initiative would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of our partners,” he said.
He appreciated the Minister of Labour and Employment for the support that led to the attainment of the success.
Earlier, Mr Joshua Fagbemi, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NDE, commended the Federal Government for initiating different programmes and policies that would tackle unemployment in the country.
He commended the NDE director general for his efforts to improve the standard of living of the youths and other Nigerians through skills acquisition programmes.
“The loan amount to be given ranges from N50,000 to N200,000 to enable the beneficiaries to establish their own businesses,” he said.
He appealed to the stakeholders to join hands with the agency by assisting in providing resettlement items for the trained youths.
Mr Jega Moses, a beneficiary who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the NDE for the gesture and promised to be good ambassadors of the agency.
Trojaninisights reports that items distributed include hairdressing equipment, GSM repairs equipment, tailoring equipment, leatherwork equipment, vulcanising and electrical installation and digital marketing devices, among others.
