Agric Soft Loan: NDE Empowers Youths, Women With N4.2m In Osun
No fewer than forty-two youths and women have been empowered under the Graduates Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) anchored by the Rural Employment Promotion ( REP) department of Osun National Directorate of Employment ( REP).
The Director General, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, who disclosed this at the flag off of training and loan disbursements of Four Million, Two-hundred Thousand Naira (4.2M) to the beneficiaries in Osogbo, Osun State capital said the soft loan was disbursed in a bid to thin down unemployment rate in the federation.
Afikpo who was represented at the flag off by NDE, Osun State coordinator, Mr. Fakunle Julius appreciated the Federal Government for the empowerment package and their consistent open arms towards NDE programs through funding and admonished the FG to continue in her periodic review of these programs and consistence funding.
The Director General said that the forty-two (42) beneficiaries from Osun State were part of the One thousand, five hundred and fifty-four, (1,554) beneficiaries nationwide.
According to him, the programme was designed with the aim of generating rural employment, income improvement, increase in standard of living, increase productivity and to establish them as an employer of labour, as a proxy for positive multiplier effect on employment rate in the federation.
He admonished the beneficiaries to be positive, focused, build confidence and see success as an achievable task through the help of God.
Afikpo further said the fund should be used appropriately, in order to improve productivity, through Agricultural farming, establishment of Agribusinesses as a way of adding social value to the society.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director REP HQ, Mrs. Beatrice Oruoyehu, representative of REP HQ HOD, Mr. Eden Duke, were not left out, as they delivered the goodwill message of her boss to the beneficiaries.
Mrs. Beatrice Oruoyehu said the loan should be used judiciously, which is payable in due course adding that all ends will justify the stance of good certificate of honour, integrity and long awaiting success that is achievable.