Nigeria: 38 youths receive N100,000 loan from NDE for sustainable agriculture

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has approved and disbursed the sum of 100,000 Naira loan each to 38 youths in Kogi State to embark on sustainable agricultural development.

According to NDE, the loan is earmarked for the beneficiaries to embark on four agricultural schemes within the agriculture value chain; namely, Graduate Agricultural Enhancement, Community-Based Agricultural Empowerment, Sustainable Agricultural Development and Agricultural Enhancement under the Rural Employment Promotion Department of the NDE in Kogi State.

NDE also organized and provided skills on sustainable agriculture for 100 unemployed youths in the State.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony in Lokoja, the Director General of NDE, Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, said agriculture is the only sector that has the potential and capability to create a lot of employment opportunities for the unemployed youths in Nigeria.

He also mentioned that the Buhari administration has taken steps to tackle unemployment headlong by embarking on programmes that will create more job opportunities for the youth.

Also, the Head of Rural Employment Promotion, Shuaibu Omeiza, said that the training for the 100 unemployed youths was aimed at equipping beneficiaries with the needed training in crop production, livestock farming, food processing and packaging.

The facilitator of the programme from NDE headquarters, Abuja, Ann Ita charged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity as it is capable of transforming their lives positively.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Alhassan Dangana lauded the NDE and the Federal Government efforts for equipping them with the necessary skills needed.