The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), under the leadership of Director General Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, is committed to tackling unemployment challenges in Nigeria.
This commitment was reiterated by the DG during the launch of the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) in Gusau.
He urged the SADTS participants to view the opportunity as invaluable and to fully engage in the program.
The DG who was represented by the Zamfara state coordinator, Mrs Hamza Hadiza Kolo, emphasized that the scheme is being implemented nationwide, spanning across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Khadija Hamza Kolo acknowledged the support of the Minister of Labour and Employment, NDE Supervising Minister, Right Honourable Nkiruka Onyejeocha, PhD, in promoting agriculture as a viable business option for 1,850 unemployed Nigerians, aligning with the national agenda of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The NDE was established by the Federal Government to combat unemployment by promoting skills acquisition and entrepreneurship over traditional white-collar jobs. The Rural Employment Promotion Department focuses on generating agricultural employment opportunities for youth, emphasizing modern skills and agribusiness.” The DG said.
The flag-off ceremony marked the beginning of training for the 1,850 participants drawn from various regions of Nigeria.
The training aims to equip participants with modern agricultural skills and empower them to establish agribusiness ventures, thereby creating employment opportunities, improving livelihoods, and reducing rural-urban migration.
During the flag off, the Participants were encouraged to seize this opportunity for self-improvement and to contribute to national development.
The program’s objectives align with the government’s focus on food security and sustainability, as emphasized by Mr. Jeshua Fagbemi representing the SADTS programme directorate from the NDE headquarters, Abuja, saying stipends will be given to the participants for their transportation.
Head of the SADTS programme in Zamfara state, Nura Shehu urged participants to actively engage in the training to achieve self-sufficiency.
The NDE reaffirmed its commitment to addressing unemployment challenges, calling for collaboration from all stakeholders for the benefit of the unemployed population.
Abdulrazak Kaura
