The Director General, National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, has flagged-off the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) in all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Ondo State coordinator of NDE, Mr Adelodun Olusegun Michael, read the address of the Director General during flag-off ceremony heralding the implementation of the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) in Akure on Wednesday.
The passionate commitment and support received from the Minister of Labour and Employment/NDE Supervising Minister, Honourable Nkiruka Onyejeocha, made it possible for NDE to promote agriculture as a business and attract unemployed Nigerians into modern agriculture in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“Therefore, it is my honour to express my sincere appreciation to the Minister for her immense encouragement and policy guidance of NDE towards achieving its mandate for creating mass job opportunities to Nigerians.
“The Directorate has been carrying out its responsibilities through sensitisation, counselling, de-radicalisation and reorienting the minds of unemployed youth to deemphasise the search for non-existent white collar jobs and embrace skills acquisition as a deliberate choice for self-reliance and effective contribution into the socio-economic development of the nation.
The Rural Employment Promotion Department is one of the core programme departments of the Directorate. It is saddled with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed youth in Nigeria.
The major strategy of the department is training in modern agricultural skills and empowerment of the beneficiaries with facilities to engage effectively in agribusiness for jobs, income generation and improved livelihood.
The training areas of the department also covers agricultural value chain activities in areas such as production, storage, Post-harvest handling and management, processing, preservation, packaging, marketing, agricultural extension, rural sociology and off farm activities as well as other innovative and modern technological driven skills in the agricultural sector.
“Today we are here to flag-off the training of 1,850 participants under the 2024 SADTS. These prospective participants are drawn from the local government and senatorial districts of the 36 states and the FCT.
He congratulates participants of the training scheme in the 36 states and the FCT where the flag off ceremony is taking place simultaneously.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me remind the participants to see this initiative as a rare opportunity which should not be allowed to fail. Remember that with the training, you will be empowered in modern agricultural activities, including off-farm activities and life skills to be able to overcome the challenges of your immediate environment.
“This training provides you with the opportunity to acquire knowledge required to set up your agribusinesses. You should, therefore, justify these efforts by putting in your best to succeed as agripreneurs. The NDE attaches high premium on this initiative due to its multiplier effect for increased job creation.
He commended the collaborators, particularly development partners, state government, National Assembly and other relevant stakeholders for their support and called all well-meaning Nigerians to unite and partner with the NDE for the benefit of the unemployed in the country.
He, however, reaffirmed that NDE will continue to do its best in addressing the challenges of unemployment in the country.
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