To empower disadvantaged groups, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has disbursed soft loans to over 400 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable people to start up small businesses to become self-reliant.
LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that before the disbursement of the loan, the beneficiaries were exposed to a rigorous one-month empowerment training programme in rabbit production, poultry, and fish farming.
The programme is part of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
Coordinator NDE Bauchi Office, Mr Iliya Yakubu Ilelah, urged the beneficiaries to utilise their new skills effectively and create multiplier effects by extending their expertise to others.
Mr Ilelah said 140 participants are expected to receive soft loans to kick-start their businesses as the initiative aims to empower youths and promote entrepreneurship in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent, Abdulkarim Sunusi and Happiness Jeremiah Kwami, expressed gratitude to the NDE and appealed to relevant MDAs and well-meaning individuals for financial support to enable them to start their own businesses.
