NDE Flags Off Sustainable Agricultural Training In Ebonyi

The National Directorate of Employees NDE in Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria has flagged off the Ceremony of Sustainable Agricultural Development Training in the State through the Department of Rural Employment Promotion.

The NDE Director-General Malam Abubaka Nuhu Fikpo stated this in his address during the flag off in Abakaliki the State Capital.

The Director-General, who was represented in the occasion by the NDE  State Coordinator Pastor Don Anaba, said the essence of the scheme was to ensure that Ebonyi people are self sustaining through agricultural business in the State.

He said, “I am pleased to address this gathering at the occasion of the orientation/flag off ceremony of the 2023 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme, SADTS.”

 

“I want to congratulate the beneficiaries in this State and 11 other states where this training is taking place.
The Federal Government, in an effort to address the increasing rate of unemployment in the country, established the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) as an apex agency responsible for sensitizing, counseling and reorienting the minds of unemployed youth to deemphasize the search for paid employment and embrace skill acquisition as a viable option to paid employment and equally as a deliberate choice to self-reliance.

In driving this policy, the NDE identified a lot of demand driven labor intensive skills in technical, vocational, domestic, entrepreneurial and agricultural enterprises to close the skills gap that exist among young unemployed graduates and school leavers searching for employment.” Abubaka said.

The Directorate has, over the years, vigorously pursued its mandate through a series of employment generation initiatives.

“It has remained focused, proactive, and poised to continue to sustain the fight against unemployment through the promotion of self-employment initiatives, attitudinal change, and counselling to achieve its vision of jobs for all.” He explained.

The DG said the Rural Employment Promotion Department, through its strategy of training in modern agricultural skills and empowerment in agribusiness engagements, is one of the core programme departments saddled with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed youth in Nigeria.

“The Programme trains unemployed youth in the agricultural value chain of activities such as production, storage, processing, preservation, packaging, etc. including other innovative and technological driven skills in the agricultural sector.

“Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) is designed to impart modern and innovative agricultural skills along its value chain to unemployed persons to become self-employed.

Sustainable agriculture also refers to an agricultural production and distribution system that provides more profitable farm income and enhances quality of life for the farming communities.” He added.

“Today, we are here to conduct the orientation of one thousand two hundred (1,200) participants under the 2023 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme. These prospective participants are drawn from the local government and senatorial districts of the 12 selected states.” He added.

Employment 

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.

“It is going to improve the livelihood of the rural people. Reduce rural-urban migration.

“Expose unemployed youths to the potential in vegetable crops and livestock production farming businesses along its value chain”

“The Head of Department HOD, Rural Employment Promotion Department, and Mr Gabriel Ozibo, during his remarks, encouraged the Trainees to take the training seriously.

“When you create for yourself, you have a better standard of living.” Ozibo added.

Also During the event, the Director in charge of Rural Employment Promotion Department in NDE Headquarters Abuja, Mr Edem Duke who was represented by Mr Chima Eleleme thanked the Nigeria Government for venturing into the wonderful employment opportunities for the youths through Agriculture.

The Guest Speaker from the Department of Agricultural Economics, Management and Extension, Professor Alimba Jonathan urged the participants not to see themselves as people who are not doing well because they have chosen Agriculture as often seen in Nigeria.

Professor Alimba rather boosted their egos, as he encouraged them to see themselves as other Agriculturalists in other parts of the world who are billionaires.

In appreciation, one of the participants, on behalf of others, Mr Nwode Emmanuel, thanked NDE for creating viable opportunities for youths to become economically boyant.

Nwode promised that they would put in place those things they have learnt during the training.

 

 

 

Shakirat Sadiq