By
Moses Peter, Abakaliki
In a bid to train Nigerians in modern agricultural skills and empowerment, the National Directorate of Employment NDE has flagged- off the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) in Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria, which is holding simultaneously in 36 States and Federal Capital Territory through Rural Employment Promotion Department.
The flag-off ceremony heralds the implementation of the 2024 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS). The passionate commitment, kind support and guidance received from the Nigeria Minister Minister of Labour and Employment/NDE Supervising Minister, Barrister Nkiruka Onyejeocha made it possible for NDE to promote Agriculture as a business and attract unemployed Nigerians into modern agriculture in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
The NDE Director- General DG, Mallam Abubaka Nuhu Fikpo disclosed this during the flag off ceremony at NDE Agricultural Skill Skill Training Center, 135 Ezzamgbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State.
The DG who was represented in the program by the NDE State Coordinator, Pastor Don Anaba expressed gratitude to the Minister for her immense encouragement and policy of NDE towards achieving its mandate for creating mass job opportunities to Nigerians.
“You may recall that the Federal Government established the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to address unemployment in the country”
“The Directorate has been carrying out its responsibilities through sensitization, counselling, de-radicalization and reorienting the minds of unemployed youth to deemphasize the search for non-existent white collar jobs and embrace skills acquisition as a deliberate choice for self-reliance and effective contributor into the socio-economy of the nation”. He added.
Anaba said Rural Employment Promotion Department is one of the core Programme departments of the Directorate. It is saddled with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed youth in Nigeria.
” The major strategy of the department is training in modern agricultural skills and empowerment of the beneficiaries with facilities to engage effectively in agribusiness for jobs, income generation and improved livelihood”
“The training areas of the department also covers agricultural value chain activities in areas such as production, storage, Post-harvest handling & management,processing,preservation, packaging, marketing, agricultural extension, rural sociology and off farm activities as well as other innovative and modern technological driven skills in the agricultural sector”. He added.
The Coordinator said the aim of the training will amongst others; create employment for the rural communities through training on modern innovative agricultural technology (Exotic vegetable crops/ livestock production skills) along its value chain, improve the livelihood of the rural people, reduce rural-urban migration and expose unemployed youths to the potential in exotic vegetable crops and livestock production farming businesses.
He congratulated the lucky participants of this training scheme in the 36states of the federation and FCT where this flag off ceremony is taking place.
The Director Rural Employment Promotion from Abuja NDE Headquarters, Mrs Beatrice Oruoyehu who was represented by Mr Maduka Festus encouraged the participants to take the training serious so as to be self reliant.
The Head of Department HOD, Rural Employment Promotion Department, Mr Gabriel Ozibo, during his remarks, encouraged the Trainees to see the training as an opportunity to grow in their economy and to become employers of labour.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Chinyere Iyioku, who was represented by the one of the Resource persons, Mr Okoro Sunday trained them on Arabic crop production which was on Cassava, Rice , Maize, and processing as in Agro business for wealth creation and employment.
Two of the Beneficiaries, Mr Onwuasoigwe Innocent and Obasi Victoria thanked the Nigeria Government in its frantic efforts through the instrumentality of NDE in making sure that all Nigerians are economically boyant.
They pray that God should continue to bless the organisers.