NDE Empowers Cross River Youths With N3.8m to Boost Agriculture

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) disbursed N3.8 million to 38 unemployed youths in Cross River State to boost the state’s agricultural value chain.

Speaking at the orientation ceremony held in the state capital, Calabar, the NDE Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, said Nigeria’s economy would remain stagnant if agricultural production and value chain were not encouraged to grow.

Fikpo, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Rural Employment Promotions, Edem Duke, noted that each of the 38 beneficiaries had been given the sum of N100,000 for four core areas of agriculture, including Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES), Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (GAES), Sustainable Agricultural Development Empowerment scheme (SADES) and Community Based Agricultural Empowerment scheme (CBAES).

Earlier in his remarks, the State Coordinator of NDE, Udam Gabriel, urged the beneficiaries to utilise the money given to them for the purpose it was meant for, which is the enhancement of food security and quality of life of the Nigerian youth.

Meanwhile, the NDE also flagged off the training of 100 youths in the state through the Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme 2022 at the Agricultural Skills Training Centre, in the Ikom LGA of the state.

Agro Nigeria