NDE to create 1800 new jobs in one month - Minister

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige says the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) will create 1,800 new jobs nationwide in the next one month.

Nigige made the disclosure on Thursday in Sokoto, in a message to the distribution of starter packs and soft loan to 150 youths trained by the NDE in Sokoto State.

"The 1, 800 new jobs are going to be created in the rural areas under the CBTS.

"I have directed the NDE to ensure that every single person that graduates from the scheme is resettled with the requisite equipment for immediate establishment of small scale businesses.

The Minister, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Ada Shuaibu, noted that the NDE had over the years demonstrated that skills acquisition is a potent weapon in fighting mass unemployment.

The acting Director-General of NDE, Mr Kunle Obayan, represented by Mr Yakubu Umar, said that the resettlement of the trainees was aimed at curbing poverty and unemployment across the country.

Obayan also stated that the directorate was fully committed to the success of the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his message to the event, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, commended the directorate for its efforts aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment in the state.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar, also commended the NDE for empowering the youths to be self reliant and employers of labour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were the graduates of the NDE's Community-based Training Scheme (CBTS), and Artisans Resettlement and Mentoring Scheme (ARMS).

Fifty of the graduates trained in knitting, tie and dye, barbing, confectioneries, among others, were given starter packs, while 100 others received N20,000 each to boost their businesses.