NDE empowers 45 unemployed youths in C' River

The National Directorate of Employment in Cross River State on Wednesday empowered no fewer than 45 unemployed youths in the state under the National Open Apprenticeship Programme.The State Coordinator of the Directorate, Mr. Edem Duke, made this disclosure during the disbursement of resettlement equipment to graduates of vocational skills training in Calabar.He said that the graduates were trained in various trades such as hairdressing, auto mechanic, hat making, electrical installation, refrigeration/air-conditioning repairs, radio/ television repairs and tailoring, among others.Duke noted that the resettlement programme marked a turning point in the lives of the beneficiaries as they had started a journey towards self-reliance and self-actualisation.He said, Those various interventions by the directorate through the training programme have provided the missing link in the nations developmental process thus guiding our youth out of the quagmire of unemployment and laying a solid foundation for their economic greatness.The NDE Coordinator, however, said that the beneficiaries were expected to repay the loans in cash within three years after a moratorium of six months.He urged the beneficiaries to make best use of the opportunities by setting up workshops and managing them profitably so as to enable them repay the loans on schedule.Duke thanked the Cross River Government for its support and collaboration towards achieving the objectives of the scheme.In his remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mike Aniah, said that the resettlement programme would provide opportunities of growth for the unemployed youths in the country.Aniah who was represented by Director of Administration, Office of the SSG, Mr Joseph Ekpang, advised the beneficiaries to look inwards and devise means of engaging in useful ventures.'They must make judicious use of the loans by establishing the businesses they were meant for, he said.Aniah restated Imokes administration, commitment to providing needed infrastructure and conducive environment for business to thrive in the state.'This is a part of our development agenda to which this administration is fully committed, he said.He congratulated the beneficiaries for the feat they had attained, saying that the programme would promote the establishment of new workshops and business by them.
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