FG empowers 335 women, youth with starter packs

The Federal Government has empowered 335 women and youths in the Niger Delta with N100.5 million worth of starter packs as part of its effort to address unemployment in the region.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru, who disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the participants in Benin City, Edo State, recently, said each trainee received a N300,000 worth starter pack.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Economic Empowerment in the ministry, Mr. Philip Ndiomu, the minister said the skills acquisition programme had paid off as women and youths had been economically empowered, thereby bringing the much needed peace, stability, socio-economic and infrastructural development to the region, as well as complemented President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort towards addressing unemployment and poverty.

The minister also urged the participants to take advantage of the knowledge and showcase the skills acquired to become self-reliant.

The Director of Community Development and Education in the ministry, Mrs. Lauren Braide, advised the participants to put the knowledge acquired and their starter packs into good use to become self-employed and be employers of labour.

One of the beneficiaries, Mary Etaba, commended the Federal Government for the training and empowerment, stressing that it was not only for money, but that the knowledge acquired added value to their lives.