From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Director General, National Directorate of Employment, NDE Dr. Nasiru Mohammed Argungu has stressed that global unemployment challenge has emerged more grievous consequence on the global society, noting too, the more worrisome and dire consequence of rising youth unemployment.
The NDE DG who expressed this concern yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State capital at the flag-off/Empowerment of 230 women in the 23 local government areas under the Small Skill Enterprise, maintained that employment generation has therefore become a factor of paramount importance to every nation’s development agenda.
Represented by the Benue State Coordinator Mr. Musa Bala Sadauki, he averred that in recent times, President Muhammadu Buhari has empowered hundreds of thousands of youths and women through articulated policies, programmes and sustained support to the Federal Government Agencies that have constitutional responsibility of empowering youths and creating job opportunities.
Dr. Ladan intimated that under his leadership, the Directorate has from the first quarter of 2019 to date, undertaken the empowerment of 500 women and Youths under the Micro- Enterprise Enhancement Scheme and other numerous acquisition training in agricultural skills enhancement for productivity and food sufficiency.
He added that 5000 beneficiaries under the CBN/NDE collaboration were issued with Basic Business Training Certificate to enable them access Agric-business Small Micro Enterprise Investment Scheme, AGSMEIS of the CBN.
While urging the beneficiaries to apply the 10,000 naira given them to be self reliant and create wealth, the DG expressed the readiness of the Directorate to collaborate with actors in both the private and public sector to augment capacities, fill gaps and promote synergy in employment generation and poverty reduction.
State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC Comrade Abba Yaro represented by his Deputy Prof. Kpamor Orkar lauded the effort of the President in tackling unemployment through such initiatives and urged the beneficiaries to use the fund wisely to improve on their wellbeing.
