By Blessing Bature
National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has flagged off the training of 50 unemployed youths in the Federal Capital Territory under the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) as part of its efforts to address unemployment, generate wealth and improve livelihood.
The Director General of the NDE Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo said the program will amongst other benefits, create employment opportunities to rural communities as participants will be exposed to training on modern innovative agricultural technology, along its value chain, which will not only improve the livelihood of rural people, but also reduce rural -urban migration.
He charged participants to see the gesture as a rare opportunity that shouldn’t be allowed to fail.
“The training avail you with the requisite knowledge needed to become successful in your agribusinesses, therefore justify this opportunity by putting in your best to be successful agripreneurs. The NDE attaches so much interest to the training because of its multiplier effects for increased job creation.” He said.
Representing the DG, the NDE -FCT state Coordinator, Mr. Noble Chimereze said the Directorate has been carrying out its responsibility through sensitization, counseling and de- radicalization and reorienting the minds of the youth to de-emphasize the search for non-existing white collar job and embrace the skill acquisition as a deliberate choice for self-reliance and contribute to socio-economic development of the nation.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to partner NDE to create jobs for the unemployed Youths in the country.
Earlier in her remark, the deputy director Rural Employment Promotion Department of the NDE Headquarters, Beatrice Oruoyehu said the Rural Employment promotion department is saddle with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed Youth by enrolling them through modern agricultural skills and empowering them to effectively engage in agribusiness for job creation, income generation and improved livelihood.
Represented by Hajia Fatima Abubakar, Beatrice said that the training duration is three months and will be split into 2 phases; the experimental phase (theory) which will last for two weeks in crops and livestock production along its value chain and the practical field adaptive farm training which will last for 10 weeks at the NDE Agricultural Skill training center (ASTC) for state with ASTC or other Similar skills training centers.
Appreciating the NDE, one of the participants, Chinelo Ndukauba thanked the directorate for the training opportunity, noting that the gestures will go a long way in curbing unemployment in Nigeria, boost food production and enhance food security.
