Directorate Of Employment Shares Starter Packs To Trainees In Ebonyi State

The National Directorate of Employment, NDE, has embarked on settlement/disbursement of starter packs to the beneficiaries of School-On-Wheels, SOW, under the vocational skills Department.

The move is part of the state government’s efforts to end unemployment and Youth restiveness.

The NDE Director-General, Malam Abubakar Nuhu disclosed this during the disbursement of the Starter Packs to the beneficiaries in Abakaliki, the state capital.

The Director-General, represented in the Programme by the NDE State Coordinator, Don Anaba said “the School- On- Wheel, SOW, is a veritable skills training scheme where equipped mobile training workshops or caravans are deployed to rural areas to impact skills to unemployed school leavers and other interested rural dwellers in our society to make them employable and self-reliant.”

Mr. Anaba said that “the objectives of the scheme are as follows: To give Vocational Skills training to the unemployed youths in the rural areas; To reduce rural-urban migration; To impact remarkable skills to the rural dwellers; To make up the gap in the rural areas where informal training outlets are non-existence and to take care of the needs of the rural communities.”

He said; “Presently, a total of 20 out of 50 unemployed youths and women trained by NDE are receiving necessary and relevant starter packs/tools for successful vocation skills ventures in over six trending skills including Cosmology, Fashion Design, Hair Dressing, Confectionery/small chop production, Barbing, and Electrical Installations.”

According to him, the training which had a duration of three months is conducted using the informal Master Craftsmen and women in the State.

Mr Anaba urged all the beneficiaries to take these empowerment tools seriously to make the best of the opportunity.

The Director of Vocational Skill Development Abuja Headquarters, Mr. Isah Abdul, represented by the Deputy Director of Vocational Skill Development, Obinna Offia engaged the Trainees in an interactive session on Vocational Management of the workshop, Use of workshop, Occupational Safety and Health Measures.

He thanked the trainers and the instructors for the good jobs they have done so far on the side of the Trainees.

Mr Abdul advised the Trainees not to sell the equipment but to make good use of it and better their lives.

The Head of Department HOD, Vocational Skill Development in the State, Mr Obiora Ananaba said it was a privilege from the Nigerian Government to have trained and equipped you with different skills.

“I urge you to make good use of the equipment given to you by practicing what you have learnt. It is not only for employing you but also for you to become employers of labour,” Ananaba added.

The Head Loans Unit and Desk Officer of the Cooperative Society, Mr. Emeka Okoroafor urged the beneficiaries to form Cooperative Societies to get more funds from the Government to do more meaningful business.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Skill Development and Job Creation Mr. Okwu Udu, represented in the Programme by his Special Assistant, Mr. Hycinth Imo thanked NDE for the wonderful empowerment programme for the Ebonyi people.

Mr Udu called for more collaboration between the State Ministry of Skill Development and Job Creation and NDE to achieve more in the State.

In appreciation, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Nwoke Favor on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the Nigerian Government and NDE for helping them.

Mercy Chukwudiebere