* Disburse N50,000 Loans To 48 POST-SADTS In Taraba
By Nahum Sule ( Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
The Taraba State State Office of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in its bid to ensure food sustainability in the state, has flagged- off orientation program for the training of 700 unemployed youths under the Rural Employment Promotion Department (REP).
The NDE also disbursed N50,000 loan to 48 graduate of Post Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (POST-SADTS) in accordance with the vision statement of the directorate in Taraba.
Speaking at an event in camp lavet hotel Jalingo, the Director-General of National of the directorate, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, reiterated that the essence of the programme is to assist unemployed youths to boost agriculture business.
Fikpo, who was represented by the Taraba State coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Danjuma Shehu, while speaking at the flag-off of the agency, stated that provision of facilities in the 14 states of the federation and FCT Abuja the will enable the trainees start up or enhance their off-farm agribusiness in thei chosen area.
He explained that agriculture is the bedrock of the economy of the nation, adding that aside from providing food and raw materials, agriculture is an avenue for generating employment opportunities to a very large percentage of the population.
The agency also in the same event issued a soft loan of N50,000 to 48 beneficiaries of Post Sustainable Agricultural Development Scheme (POST-SADTS)
He admonished the beneficiaries to endeavour to repay the loans within a period of 2 years, stating that the right mindset towards government interventions would see them become self sufficient.
The DG posited that NDE was established by the Federal Government to combat mass unemployment and generate jobs for the masses, adding that the loan scheme was one of the many schemes of the directorate which are designed to empower citizens.
A beneficiary, Mr. Mohammed Salisu, thanked the NDE for their tireless efforts to see that unemployed youths get engaged in handwork. He promises that they will use the loan judiciously. NNL.
