From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The National Directorate of Employment(NDE), on Tuesday, commenced the training of 25 youths in Kogi on advanced agricultural production.
The beneficiaries were those who have earlier undergone a training under her sustainable Agricultural Training Scheme implementation by the Rural Employment Department in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.
In his welcome address during the flag- off of the programme, the Kogi State Coordinator of NDE, Mallam Zakari Abubakar disclosed that the 5-days post sustainable Agricultural Development programme was designed to acquaint the trainees with advanced training in crop production and animal husbandry.
Abubakar who affirmed that agriculture has the potential of creating mass employment for unemployed Youths especially those in the rural areas, advised the beneficiaries to take the training seriously as it has the capacity to transform their lives positively
In a keynote address by the Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo,,which was delivered by Dr, Sylvester Ekemhonye Fikpo from the NDE headquarters, said that NDE is poised to create jobs for the teeming youths as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said that the president in his concerted efforts is using the the instrumentality of NDE and other social investment Programmes to tackle the problem of poverty which according to him is yielding tremendous result.
Fikpo urged the youths to strive to acquire marketable skills that will make them self reliant instead of waiting endlessly for white-collar jobs
Responding on behalf of the trainees, Mallam Saliu Iyaji praised the NDE and the federal government for giving them this additional free training and promised of making use of the skills acquired judiciously.
