The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has disbursed the sum of N100, 000 loan each to 42 unemplyed youths in Ebonyi to enable them embark on sustainable agricultural development.
The Directorate made the disbursement on Tuesday in Abakaliki on the occasion of the 2022 Orientation Ceremony of Loan Disbursement for the Beneficiaries.
It reported that the loan was earmarked for beneficiaries on four agricultural schemes of the NDE, including: Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES) and Sustainable Agricultural Development Empowerment Scheme (SAES).
The Community-Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (CBAES), Graduates Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (GAES) under its Rural Employment Promotion (REP) Department of the NDE in Ebonyi.
The Directo-General of the NDE, Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by the state Coordinator, Mr Don Anaba, said aside the loan disbursement, 200 unemployed youths were earlier trained on the schemes.
Nuhu-Fikpo noted that the schemes were parts of its core programmes in generating employemnt opporrunities for unemployed youths in the country.
The Director-Geberal said, under the empowerment schemes, 200 graduated trainees of REP in Ebonyi were trained in different skills of poultry, fishery, snailry, piggery, crop and animal husband.
“There were also trained in farm management and record keeping, crop processing, packaging and marketing.
“Today, 42 of these trainees are being resettled with a loan of N100, 000 each to enable the set up and manage small scale agricultural enterprises in their chosen area of interest to become self reliance,” he added.
Nuhu-Fikpo urged the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a rare opportunity, which should not be allowed to fall.
“Remember that, with the loan facility, you have been empowered,” he advised.
Mr Edem Duke, Head of REP, Abuja Headquarters, who was represented by an NDE’s official, Mr Chimaobi Eleleme urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the money and invest properly.
Mr Gabriel Sunday Ozibo, HoD REP in Ebonyi charged the trainees to utilise the opportunity as it is capable of transforming their lives positively.
Mr Emeka Okoroafor, Head of Loan Unit, NDE, Ebonyi, urged the beneficiaries to also invest properly with the money to enable them pay back.
“The N100,000 soft loan. I urge you to make good use of the money and invest with it. Establish business of your choice. Remember is a loan and not grant,”Okafor added.
Amos Nnaji, Beneficiary of the loan thanked the federal government and NDE for the gesture and promised to invest and become employed of labour.