Over 10,000 Anambra Women, Youths Benefit From NDE In 5 Months 

Raymond Ozoji, Awka

No fewer than 10, 000 women and youths of Anambra state have benefitted from National Directorate of Employment, NDE, vocational skills training from the last quarter of 2018 to date.

Dr Nasir Argungu, Director General of NDE, disclosed this at the flag-off/empowerment of 10,000 women and youths in Nnewi on Thursday.

Represented by Mr Julius Fakunle, Argungu said that issue of youth employment has witnessed rapid intervention  by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

”In recent time, the President has empowered hundreds of thousands of youths and women through articulated policies, programmes and sustained support to federal agencies responsible for employment and jobs creation ”, he said.

Argungu who reeled out statistics of beneficiaries of vocational skills in the state, added that his management has been actively collaborating with actors in both private and public sectors.

He thanked Dr. George Moghalu, an indigene of the area for always partnering with NDE in matters that promote empowerment creation and national development.

Also speaking, Anambra State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs. Ofelle Chika said the training was meant to equip the youths and women.

Chika noted that 3,000 persons were trained under the basic business training scheme, while some were equipped on how to prepare business plans.

“We are currently collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Agric Business Small Micro Enterprise Investment Scheme, whereby, with a good business plan one can access up to N10 million at one digit interest rate”, she said.

She congratulated the beneficiaries on being part of the programme, and urged them to put what they were taught to work.

Dr George Moghalu, commended the federal government and NDE for their efforts in tackling the challenges of youths and women unemployment.

Miss Ngozi Udemba and Ndubuisi Okoye, both beneficiaries of the programme said they were happy to be part of the scheme.

Okoye who is being trained in fashion designing specifically said he would use his experience to set up a business to avoid being exposed to problem of job seeking.