The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Benue State has trained 65 young people in various entrepreneurship skills.
Our correspondent reports that the 65 participants were mainly school leavers and artisans drawn from across the 23 LGAs of the state for training in various skills.
The NDE Director-General, Alhaji Abubakar Fikpo, in his keynote address, noted that the Basic Business Training (BBT) was in tandem with the programmes of the Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) department of the NDE involved in the development of the entrepreneurial abilities among the youth.
Fikpo, who was represented by the Benue State Coordinator, Akile Patrick, said the NDE was aware of the huge challenge of unemployment and the associated anti-social behaviour that currently exists in the country.
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“It is for this reason that the NDE encourages the formation of small businesses through its Enterprise Creation Schemes and supports their successes through the provision of business management training,” he said.
On his part, Chikodi Ike, who is the Head of Department of SSE at the NDE headquarters in Abuja, said the basic business training was developed to equip school leavers and artisans with rudimentary business skills which would enhance their capacity to succeed in their chosen businesses.
Represented by Aishatu Aliyu, the HOD stressed that, “these are value-reorientation away from a culture of the perpetual search for non-existent or dwindling wage employment opportunities; skills acquisition training and resettlement that is a provision with starter packs.”
The HOD of SSE in Benue, Mrs Abeje Mfam, urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity coming to them on a platter of gold and acquire their dream skills.
A participant, Iorhem Lawrence, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the NDE for the opportunity to become better people in society.