The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced the orientation for the implementation of Community Based Business Training Scheme (CBBTS) for unemployed persons in Imo State.
Declaring open the event which held at Amakohia Community in Owerri North LGA of the state, weekend, the Director General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, reiterated the mandate of NDE which is anchored on making sure that numerous members of the unemployed are gainfully engaged through empowerment on skills acquisition.
Fikpo was represented at the flag off of the orientation ceremony by the Imo State Coordinator of NDE, Barr. Chisara Eqwim-Chima said that the training which will last for 3 months will focus on three schemes which include; Wig Making/ Gele tying, Decoration / Confectionaries, as well as Cosmetology / Perfumery.
According to him, NDE has chosen fast-moving businesses in the community which have no off-season for the prospective artisans who are the participants, who are to learn the skills and be gainfully employed.
The DG reminded the participants that the scope of the training being anchored by the Department of Special Public Works (SPW), NDE in Abuja, under Mrs. Olaomi Rosline is meant for those between the ages of 18-35 years, warning those who are not yet up to or above the ages to stay away from the training.
He said: “anybody below 18 years is not supposed to be part of the training because NDE wants to catch people who have flair for the trades” and will be ready to establish their own businesses at the end of the training.
The DG who equally emphasized on the minimum qualification said that the training is for those with minimum of junior secondary school certificates, adding that the participants must reside in the communities for easy accessibility to the training venue, adding that transport fare is provided by NDE within the 3 months duration of the training. The participants can use it for snacks during the period of the training.
To the trainers, Fikpo cautioned them not to collect or charge any money from the trainees because the program is free and also said that local language can be used for the training for easy learning.
He assured the commitment of NDE to take adequate care of the trainers while he advised the trainees to ensure they take their training very seriously to be able to learn all the necessary skills that would help them become self-employed at the end of their training.
The DG assured them that NDE at the end of the 3 months training will also give them a token that would assist them start up their own trades, adding these measures by NDE would go a long way in reducing the burden of unemployment in the country.
He said: “if at the end of the training, you don’t want to establish any trade, that person may not get the NDE soft loan for employment”.
He expressed deep appreciation for the commitment of the Community leaders, especially Igolo Judy Paul, who facilitated the location of the training program in the community.
In her welcome speech, the Imo State NDE Coordinator, Barr. Chisara Eqwim-Chima, whose speech was presented by the HOD Small Scale Enterprises department NDE, Imo, Mrs. Theresa Nwachukwu, advised the participants to count themselves lucky to have been chosen for the training.
She charged both the trainees and trainers to ensure mutual cooperation, to ensure success of the training while advising the trainers to always see the trainees as their children and use the best methodology to inculcate into them the required skills that would enable them to become self-reliant in life.
Barr. Chisara Eqwim-Chima advised the trainees to be punctual and mindful of their attitude to both the training and to their trainers in order to acquire the knowledge needed for them to excel in life.
Responding, a participant at the training, Asika Cynthia Chioma commended the Director General, and management team of NDE and Igolo Judy Paul for showing them love.
She promised on behalf of other participants to keep to the rules and regulations guiding the training in order to acquire the right skills, while assuring that they will not let NDE down.
The Imo State Coordinator of NDE, Barr. Chisara Eqwim-Chima with the staff of NDE in Owerri and both trainees and trainers during the flagged off of Orientation of implementation of CBBTS held in Amakohia in Imo State.
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