Trainees Receive 113 NDE Starter Packs in Abia

Director General,  NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed

By Damilola Oyedele

One hundred and thirteen beneficiaries of one of the major schemes of the National Director for Employment (NDE), Easybiz Business Ownership Scheme in Abia State, have received starter packs to enable them commence businesses they have received training for.

Speaking during the disbursement in Umuahia, Abia state recently, the Director General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, said the agency was enjoying the collaboration of notable Nigerians in the bid to address the challenge of mass unemployment.

Mohammed, who was represented by the NDE’s Director of Small Scale Enterprises, Mr. Kunle Obayan, particularly lauded the commitment and efforts of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, towards job creation in Nigeria.

In a copy of the speech, which was made available to THISDAY, Mohammed explained that the Easybiz is designed to allow unemployed youths engage in small scale businesses on cashless basis using the point-of-sale (PoS) technology.

“Early in the year 2011, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiated actions that will launch Nigeria into the league of cashless economies. The NDE quickly keyed into this initiative by introducing the NDE Quik-Quik Business Ownership Scheme as well as the Easybiz Business Scheme,” he said.

He disclosed that the agency was enjoying tremendous support from the members of the National Assembly through the execution of many job creation initiatives on collaborative basis. The disbursement of the starter packs was done in collaboration with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who is from the state.

“This is hinged on our conviction that the best way forward in the fight against unemployment is in our ability to create a synergy with all well-meaning stakeholders. I am proud to say that we have recorded very significant and encouraging results from the efforts,” Mohammed said.
He reiterated the preparedness of the NDE to continue to work with innovation, passion and commitment towards reducing unemployment in Nigeria to tolerable levels.

THISDAY