NDE flags off 4 empowerment schemes, gives loans to 42 beneficiaries in Adamawa

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has flagged off four empowerment schemes under REP and has given loans to 42 unemployed graduates in Adamawa state

These schemes include Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES), Sustainable Agricultural Development Empowerment Scheme (SADES) and the Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (GAES) and Community Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (CBAES).

Director General of the Directorate, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, who flagged off the programme said that the gesture was part of the Federal Government effort to address rising high level of unemployment in the Country.

Fikpo who was represented by the Adamawa State Coordinator of NDE, Malam Ibrahim Jimada, said in Yola the state capital, that the 42 beneficiaries were carefully selected and loan of N100,000 each, disbursed to them.

The Director General said that “as part of its continued efforts in generating rural employment and improving income through crop production / agribusiness engagement , the directorate through the Rural Employment Promotion department has trained many participants in various agricultural practices.

These according to him include “crop farming, livestock rearing, agricultural extension services and many more during the year.

Fikpo noted that “having undergone these trainings, ede directorate, as part of its mandate of wealth creation, has decided to empower these graduands so as to prevent them from relapsing into state of unemployment

According to him, in the Agricultural Enhancement Scheme , nine, graduands 6 benefitted, 15 in the Sustainable Agricultural Develop Empowerment Scheme , seven in Community Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme and 11 in Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme.

The Director General informed the beneficiaries that ” these are revolving loan packaged that are expected to be paid back with interest according to the agreement forms being filled and submitted by them and their guarantors.

He added that ” the loan repayment is expected to start after the stipulated months of moratorium.

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Mr Edam Duke, HOD REP, National Headquarter, Abuja comended NDE for the programme and urged the beneficiaries to be committed as they would appreciate the gesture at the end.

Duke who was represented by Hauwa Ibrahim said the Federal government are also committed to the successes of the training.

“Those who are serious will soon be self-employed and employers of labour,” she said.

In her address Zainab Audu, Rural Empowerment program scheme (HOD) REP scheme in Adamawa, advised the participants to realized that farming is a lucrative business.
She urged them to pay attention and acquire the skill for successful implementation in the field.

“With the training, you will become millionaires and employers of labour within a short time, if you put it into practice”, she said.

She called on them to be good ambassadors of their respective communities by ensuring peace and unity for sustainable development.

Miss Deborah Gisilanbe and Salihu Nuhu, who spoke on behalf of the participants, thanked NDE for the training and assured to actively participate toward achieving the objectives of the training.