42 Gombe youths get NDE loan

The National Directorate of Employment has given a loan of N100,000 each to 42 youths trained in various schemes under the Rural Employment Promotion Department.

Our correspondent reports that the schemes include the 2022 Community-based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme, 2022 Agricultural Enhancement Scheme, 2022 Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme and 2022 Sustainable Agricultural Empowerment Scheme.

Presenting the N4.2m loans to beneficiaries, the Director-General of the NDE, Abubakar Fikpo Nuhu, said the beneficiaries were carefully selected and trained in both theory and practical of modern agricultural farming.

Nuhu, who was represented by the state Coordinator, Jediel Stephen, added, “This will lead to self-employment, poverty reduction and wealth creation in livestock management and market gardening.”

Speaking further on the importance of the loan, the DG revealed that the beneficiaries were expected to harness food security in line with the Federal Government policies of Agricultural Transformational Agenda in Gombe State and the nation in general.

He added, “On our part, we have accomplished the task given to us. Therefore, we are looking forward to the beneficiaries to make good use of the ample opportunity given by undergoing the training and resettlement with start-up capital to commence farming as a business.”