Jos women trained for international business

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it is providing platforms for women who have benefited from its skill acquisition training programmes to participate in local and international trade fairs.

NDE Director-General Abubakar Fikpo disclosed this during the opening of a training programme on the shoe and bag-making for 20 unemployed women in Plateau on Tuesday in Jos.

The training is under the programme of the Women Employment Branch (WEB) of the NDE Small Scale and Enterprises (SSE) department.

Represented by the Ag. State Coordinator of NDE in Plateau, Mrs Asabe Lassa, the director general said the action would build their network and enable them to gain international exposure to harness their potential in business.

According to him, the shoe-making and bag-making training was designed to facilitate income-generating activities for women to reduce poverty among them.

He said no fewer than 740 women would be trained on the skills across the nation, adding that the first phase would be in the 19 states in the northern part of the country, while the second phase would be the 17 states in the southern part.

“Aside this, NDE has deliberately designed and implemented new schemes that key squarely into the micro-economic policies of the federal government,” he said.

In her remarks, the state coordinator, encouraged the beneficiaries to be serious in the training, describing it as a life-changing opportunity for them to create wealth for themselves and their families.

She urged the women to be committed and disciplined in learning the skill, as bags and shoes “are always trending and a viable business.”

The Head of Department of SSE, Ms Chikodi Ike, while addressing the participants, said the training would be conducted by skillful professionals who would train the beneficiaries on the rudiments of shoes and bag making.

Represented by a staff of the department, Mrs Fatima Aminde, she urged the trainees to be attentive to learn the required skills to enable them to make unique styles and designs.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Nanchin Longwen,  thanked NDE for the opportunity and assured of their commitment to learning.