NDE Lifts 20 Young Nigerians Out of Unemployment In Kogi, PWDs Bemoan Exclusion

As part of effort by President Tinubu administration towards reducing Unemployment in Nigeria, the federal government through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced vocational skills development scheme for young Nigerians tagged ‘Basic-National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS) in Lokoja, Capital of Kogi State, in north central Nigeria.

In a keynote address at the event held in Lokoja this week, the Kogi State NDE Coordinator, Mr. Ibidun Abiodun Amos who represented the Director General of NDE, Mr. Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, disclosed that no fewer than twenty (20) jobseekers have been recruited to participate in the skills acquisition training that will enable them become self reliant and employers of labour in the State.

The Director General of NDE says the B-NOAS scheme being implemented by the agency has potential to increase youth contribution to national economic growth.

Fikpo called on youths to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on job creation and poverty reduction among other specified national development objectives.

According to Fikpo, the era of waiting for white collar jobs for the teeming unemployed youths was over. hence, the need youths to take their destinies in their own hands, by embracing opportunities offered by the Federal Government through the NDE to earn living in a challenging economy.

The Head of Vocational skills Development Department in NDE Headquarters, Abuja Mrs Amina Lewa Shettima, who was represented by Mrs Jamila Suleiman, in a goodwill message, charged the participants to take the training with utmost seriousness, reminding them of the fact that there are many persons out there looking for this kind of opportunity.

Mr. Abubakar Adam, HOD of VSD in the State Office, charged the participants to be of good conducts at their respective training centres as the agency has zero tolerance for absenteism and laziness. Adam, stated that the Inspectorate department carries out regular monitoring and evaluation to assess participants’ to the programme.

Responding on behalf of the participants of the B-NOAS, Miss Ann Moses, expressed gratitude to NDE management for offering them the opportunity, ‘that will place us on the pedestal of entrepreneurship. Miss Moses, applauded President Tinubu led Administration for funding the programme she describes as a remarkable gesture towards the unemployed.

Meanwhile, a civil rights activist in Kogi State, Comrade Arome Daniel I brahim, former chairman of national association of persons with Disabilities (NAPWPD) in the state, has called on the Director General of national directorate of employment (NDE) and its management board to consider PWDs across Nigeria in NDE vocational training schemes to alleviate poverty among Nigerians with disabilities.

In a media chat in Lokoja, Arome appeals for involvement of PWDs in line with the inclusive policy of President Tinubu on disability inclusion in all government schemes and development programmes to give equal economic opportunities to all Nigerians irrespective of disability and social status as enunciated in Nigeria’s constitution.

Arome, noted that social inclusion was an integral part of state policy on economic development just as the Renew Hope Agenda of Tinubu’s administration seeks social justice for all Nigerians.

The activist called on national assembly and national human rights commission to investigate alleged exclusion of greater number of PWDs in Nigeria who search for economic opportunities amid deprivation as Arome insists that, “the NDE hardly considers the PWDs in the state in spite of its ostensible inclusiveness in the vocational training schemes as a handful of PWDs applicants are rarely considered in all the schemes in Kogi State.”