Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced a five-day training on shoe and bag making for 20 women in Bauchi State.
Speaking during the commencement of the training in Bauchi yesterday, the Director-General of NDE, Malam Nuhu Fikpo, said the training was holding simultaneously across 19 northern states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Represented by the state Coordinator of NDE, Mr. Lawan Yaya, the DG said 740 women had been selected nationwide with 20 women per state.
He called on the beneficiaries of the training to listen attentively to their trainers and practice whatever they were being taught, at home.
According to him, “Do not let your domestic duties serve as a distraction to you; create time to practice, as practice makes perfection.
“Ultimately, it is my desire that you become self-employed thereby increasing the wealth and dignity of your family.”
He explained that the NDE is one of the foremost federal government agencies with the mission to design and implement job creation programmes that would promote attitudinal change, employment generation, reduce poverty and enhance wealth creation, hence the training.
Also, Head of Department (HOD), Small Scale Enterprises, NDE headquarters, Ms Chikodi Ike, said the training was designed to generate employment, create wealth and self- employment, especially among unskilled women as unemployment has become a national problem.
Represented by the Principal Enterprise Development Officer (PEDO) of NDE, Ms Justina Akoji, Ike explained that the beneficiaries would be given as much as N20,000 loan each as starter packs after the training.
“It is for this purpose that this training is being conducted to empower you with both skills and funds to commence your own enterprise with ease,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Mariam Ibrahim appreciated the NDE for the initiative and promised to make effective use of the knowledge gathered in order to become employers of labour.
