As a way of actualising its mandate of job creation and poverty alleviation, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has distributed equipment and cash worth N1.2 Million to 11 youths trained in Interlocking Tiles and Plaster Of Paris (POP) in Edo state.
The director-general, Mr Nasiru Ladan-Argungu who spoke in Benin yesterday at the ceremony, said the initiative was part of the Environmental Beautification Training Scheme (EBTS) of the NDE.
Represented by the state coordinator, Mrs Ayo Edegbai, Mr Ladan-Argugungu urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment and cash for the purpose they were meant.
According to him, the beneficiaries were equipped to enable them to become self-reliant and to be employers of labour.
He said: “This will be able to unlock their potentials as leaders, take the country into the future as well as maximise the qualities of their lives.
“Today’s milestone is a demonstration of NDE’s support to youth investment as it has provided requisite tools and cash to a total of 416 graduates of 2018 Environmental Beautification Training Scheme operator in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory to start and grow their businesses as budding landscaping service operator.
“The EBTS initiative is to offer youthful school leaver participants, employability skills and learning experiences that transfer hard and soft landscaping skills to them on-the-job while serving with experienced landscaping service providers in the informal sector.”
The NDE boss said that a total of 50 persons in the state were trained in interlocking and POP of which 11 are being resettled and employed to the tune of N1, 200, 450,00 as loans.
He added: “To whom much is given much is expected. It is expected that you will pay back in good time for others to also benefit.”
He, however, commended the state government for providing the enabling environment for NDE job creation programmes to thrive.
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