By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The Federal government through the National Directorate of Employment ((NDE) has announced the disbursement of N1. 2 billion naira loans to 1, 200 unemployed youth under its Sustainable Agricultural Development Skills Training (SADTS) in twelve states of the federation.
The NDE Director General, Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, disclosed this at the one day orientation and flagging off 2023 SADTS training scheme in Bauchi. He noted that the training would provides the youth with many opportunity's to acquire knowledge required to set up their own agribusinesses.
Fikpo who was represented by the State Coordinator, Lawal Ali Yaya, said the 1, 200 unemployed people will be engaged in a 3 months intensive training in Agricultural value chain on livestock and crops production in areas of their choices.
He explained that each beneficiaries will receive N15, 000 as stipends for 3 months transportation allowances and N100, 000 start-up pack as loan to pay back in 2 years and 6 months moratorium after a successful completion of the program. He added that the prospective participants were drawn from the Local Government and senatorial districts of the 12 States.
In a speech, the NDE Director, Rural Employment Promotion ( REP) Dept, Mr. Edem O. Duke who was represented by Mr Nkem Ekeamadi, explained that the Scheme (SADTS) is designed to impart modern and innovative Agricultural Skills along its value chain to unemployed persons to become self-employed.
Also speaking, the head of the training, Zara Umar, said the scheme will amongst others; create employment for the rural communities through training on modern innovative Agricultural technology (vegetable crops/ livestock production Skills) along its value chain.
In his goodwill message, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr R Suleiman Adamu, represented by Sarkin Bauchi, Zubairu Aliyu, lauded the initiative by NDE and enjoined the beneficiaries to see it as an opportunity for been selected and to put in their best during the training.
Some of the participants who spoke to NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent, Abubakar Galadiman and Halima Adamu, expressed their profound gratitude to the NDE and the federal government for the gesture and promised to use the loan judiciary for the purpose it was meant for in accordance with the guidelines. NNL.