From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The National Directorate of Employment, (NDE) has commenced the training 65 persons on various entrepreneurship skills in Benue state.
Speaking in Makurdi on Tuesday, the Director -General, NDE, Alhaji Abubakar Fikpo, explained that the Basic Business Training (BBT) was in tandem with the programmes of the Small Scale Enterprises (SSE) department of the NDE involved in the development of the entrepreneurial abilities among youths.
Represented by the Benue State Co-ordinator, Akile Patrick, Fikpo said the NDE was aware of the huge challenge of unemployment and the anti-social behaviour that is associated with it.
He said “It is for this reason that the NDE encourages the formation of small businesses through its Enterprise Creation Schemes and supports their successes through the provision of business management training.”
According to him, the training was part of efforts of the Directorate to address the menace of business failure created as a result of managerial skills by new entrant into the informal sector.
He assured the 65 participants drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas of the state that starter packs would be provided for a percentage of them at the end of the training.
The Head of Department of SSE at the NDE headquarters, Aishatu Aliyu, said that the basic business training was developed to equip school leavers and artisans with rudimentary business skills to enhance their capacity to succeed in their chosen businesses.
Aliyu who spoke through a representative, Chikodi Ike, said “these are value-reorientation away from a culture of perpetual search for non-existent or dwindling wage employment opportunities.”
Speaking on behalf of other participants, Lawrence Iorhem, appreciated NDE for the opportunity given to them and pledged not to misuse it.