By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has said skills acquisition will not only allow for sustainable employment and wealth creation but also reduce reactiveness amongst unemployed youths in Nigeria.
Giving the advise, on Wednesday in Sokoto during the empowerment and disbursement of loans to 26 beneficiaries of the Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS), the State Coordinator of NDE, Malam Ibrahim Faisal Audu, said they will now be self reliant.
Malam Faisal who further reminded beneficiaries that the tools and cash given to them is a loan that attracts single digits simple interest of 9%, also appealed that they should make judicious use of it.
Speaking in a keynote address, the State Coordinator, Faisal said, "The loan has a moratorium of six months before repayment begins and it is repayable in three years".
While urging the 26 beneficiaries to make maximum use of whatever was given to them, Faisal said, "By the time you do that and are able to employ even just one out of the ever increasing people in the labour market, you would have helped in becoming good ambassadors of NDE".
Ten (10) of the 26 beneficiaries of the EBTS were trained in Hard Landscaping, eight (8) on Soft landscaping while another eight (8) on Plaster of Paris (POP).
Earlier in a goodwill message, the NDE Head of Utility Department, Suleiman Adamu Kaingiwa, said the beneficiaries should count themselves lucky to have been introduced into skills.
According to him, self employment pays better than most white collar jobs that are rare to get and whose minimum wage can not even take care of and their families comfortably.
Kangiwa who noted that most civil servants regrets post service life because they have no business of their own nor any skill, Kangiwa urged the EBTS beneficiaries to strive towards becoming employers of labour in the near future and not to use the loan for fun.
In a vote of thanks on behalf all beneficiaries of the EBTS, Mubarack Sanusi who was trained in Plaster of Paris (POP), said NDE and the federal government has given much to them. He however promised that they will not let the agency down by ensuring that they repay there loans in good time so that it will be used to empower others too. NNL.
