National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has empowered over 22 farmers in Sokoto and in 12 other states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NDE director-general, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, stated this at the disbursement of loans to the second batch of beneficiaries of the Agricultural Enhancement Scheme in Sokoto.
Under the scheme, he said 276 beneficiaries would be empowered with N27,600,000 to enable them set up and manage small scale agricultural enterprises in their chosen areas of interest to become self-reliant, create wealth and generate employment opportunities for others.
Fikpo who was represented by the Sokoto State coordinator of the scheme, Mallam Mustapha Aliyu Goniri noted that the occasion was a clear demonstration of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to youth empowerment, food security, wealth creation and pulling 100 million people out of poverty.
He said, “The Rural Employment Promotion Department through its strategy of training in modern agricultural skills and empowerment in agribusiness engagements is one of the core programme departments saddled with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed youth in Nigeria.
“The programme trains unemployed youth in the agricultural chain of activities such as production, storage, processing, post-harvest handling and management, preservation, packaging, marketing, agricultural extension and rural sociology as well as other innovative and technological driven skills in the agricultural sector.”
Fikpo said, “Let me remind the beneficiaries to see this gesture as a rare opportunity which should not be allowed to fail. Remember that with the loan facility you have been doubly empowered. First, you have been trained in modern agriculture and life skills to be able to overcome the challenges of the immediate environment.
“Second, the loan empowerment provides you with the required finances for entrepreneurship.
“You should therefore justify these efforts by putting in your best to succeed and repay the loan in due time so that other unemployed youths will benefit subsequently. The NDE attaches very high premium on multiplier effects of the loan schemes for increased job creation.”
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