The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), says it will train female graduates on make-up, food processing and packaging, event management and tying of ‘gele’ as part of measures to reduce poverty among Nigerian women.
The NDE Director-General, Malam Abubakar Nuhu-Fipko, disclosed this on Monday in Kano at the opening ceremony of the pilot programme in Kano.
Nuhu-Fipko, who was represented by the Head of Women Employment in the directorate, Mrs Joyce Yarnap, said that the training would be conducted under the Women Employment Collaboration Scheme (WECS) of the NDE.
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He said that the pilot scheme would be conducted in eight states – Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Enugu, Delta, Nasarawa, Taraba and Ogun.
According to him, 50 beneficiaries would be selected to benefit from each of the pilot state.
The director-general explained that the programme was designed to assist women to recover from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many of them to lose their businesses.
“You know that unemployment is biting hard and we discovered that after the pandemic, and with the recent insecurity in some parts of the country, a lot of women have lost their businesses.
“We are doing the pilot scheme in eight states, and the success of this scheme will determine whether we will go on or not.
“Generally, we used to take a skill, but now decided to take three skills at a time.
“They are food processing and packaging, make-up and events management and tying of gele.
“So, after the training, the women do not necessarily need to go and open a shop for their businesses, they can do it at their homes,” he said.
He said that the beneficiaries would also be given allowances to boost their morale.
In his remarks, the state acting Coordinator, NDE, Malam Idris Sani-Yakasai, said that 50 beneficiaries would be trained in each of the eight pilot states, Kano inclusive.
He said that the scheme would assist to reduce unemployment and poverty among women in society.
Sani-Idris reiterated the commitment of the directorate in addressing unemployment.
“Today marks yet another milestone in the fight against unemployment, the hydra-headed monster responsible for the socio-economic problems bedevilling the nation.
“For over 30 years, NDE has been fighting unemployment through employment generation to ensure wealth creation and poverty reduction,” he said.
He, however, explained that the task of providing employment to unemployed women and youths required concerted efforts and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
One of the beneficiaries, Aisha Abubakar, thanked the NDE for organising the training, saying that it would assist to boost their economy. (NAN)
