Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), under its skills acquisition scheme, has commenced the training of 100 unemployed persons in Kogi state on Technocultural Crafts and Quick-Fix Demand Driven Expertise.

The Techcrafts and Quick-Fix Demand Driven Skills which will last for three months and four weeks respectively is aimed at generating employment opportunities for the jobless in Kogi state.

The Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo who was represented by the Kogi state Coordinator of the Directorate, Mallam Abubakar Zakari while speaking at the fllag-off ceremony held at Kabba on Friday, disclosed that 50 beneficiaries would be trained on Quick-Fix Demand Driven Skills such as Interior Decoration and Catering.

The Director General also hinted that 50 other beneficiaries will be trained on Technocrafts such as making of pots, weaving of clothes, local goldsmithing, leather works and tie and dye.

Mallam Fikpo expressed joy that Nigeria is blessed with abundant indigenous cultural crafts in rural and sub-urban areas which he said needed to be tapped to boost productivity and self-sustaining ventures.

The Director Vocational Skills Development Department, Mallam Isa Abdul represented by Mrs Jamila Suleiman in his remarks, said that the training would no doubt harness the huge potentials of indigenous cultural crafts for local industrialization stressing that it will also stimulate the growth of rural economy and generation of employment for the masses.

The Departmental Head, Vocational Skills, Mrs Lydia Opaluwa on her part, charged the participants on attitudinal change towards creating jobs for themselves in order to contribute their quota to the development of Kogi state and Nigeria at large.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs Adejoke Adedeji expressed assurance that the training would transform their living standard as well as help in tackling insecurity, prostitution, cultism and other social vices associated with unemployment.

While appreciating the federal government’s gesture, Adedeji promised that they will make judicious use of the opportunity to better their lives.