By Amos Okioma
The National Directorate of Empowerment (NDE) on Wednesday, said it empowered over 450 unemployed youths in Bayelsa between January and April as part of efforts to curb unemployment.
Mr. Aham Osuchukwu, Bayelsa Coordinator of the Directorate, told journalists that the beneficiaries cut across the eight local Government Areas of the state.
Given the breakdown, Osuchukwu said that about 300 women in the state were empowered with N10, 000 each under it programme called, Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme.
“Under the NDE Agricultural Value Chain, 60 persons were empowered and were given financial support of N40, 000 each.
“In Food Processing and Packaging, 48 persons benefited with a support of N20, 000 each; we have 36 persons in Agricultural Enhancement Scheme and each persons were given N50, 000.
“While in Basic Business Training, 15 persons in the Bayelsa were given N85, 000 each,” the Coordinator explained.
He, however reiterated the Directorate commitment to the fight against unemployment not only in Bayelsa but Nigeria at large.
“The Directorate, under the leadership of the present Director-General, Dr Ladan Argungu has mapped out various developmental programme at ensuring that unemployment across states of the federation were reduced drastically.
“We call on the unemployed persons to key into it programme and support federal government efforts towards job creations,” Osuchukwu stated.
