To reduce poverty and unemployment in the country, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), under the leadership of the Director General, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, has directed the Special Public Works Department (SPW) of the directorate to train 20 unemployed participants in some selected skills.
The skills include hard landscaping and soft landscaping, tiling, interlocking, horticulture, and plaster of Paris (POP), while the free training programme will last for three months, respectively.
Speaking at the flag-off or orientation of the scheme, the state coordinator, Mr. Kudabo Gabriel Olufemi, urged the participants to see the opportunity as all-important.
The NDE boss, who said that white-collar jobs are few and dwindling, added that hard work is now the most promising and beneficial.
He said that many graduates of higher institutions operate as commercial tricycle or motorcycle riders, adding that formal job opportunities are scarce, while a large number of graduates go into the labour market annually.
He then encouraged beneficiaries to be of good conduct and make NDE proud in their places of assignment, describing the opportunity by the Federal Government as an inheritance of a lifetime.
He also said some selected participants will be empowered after the programme.
The Head of Department SPW, Mr Omotosho Adebayo, urged the participants to be loyal to their trainers, while the Head of the Department Inspectorate, Mr Fagbemi David, advised them to be punctual, active, and perform well.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Abdulsalam Kehinde, gave testimony and appreciated NDE for giving him the opportunity to participate in the EBTS programme, saying that the programme had helped to change his life for the better and that he is making lots of money from his flower and ugwu (vegetables) business.
Mr Omotosho Badmus, who is among the vulnerable group, said that despite his health challenges, he still finds it an opportunity to showcase his talent in horticulture.
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