By Lawrence Mbah
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has empowered 15 of its graduate-trainees, in shoe and bag making using fabrics under its Small Scale Enterprises Department with equipment and cash component of N20,000 each.
The Director-General, Mallam Nuhu Fikpo, in his speech at the graduation ceremony held at Amarata, Yenagoa, charged the trainees, who were selected and trained in the skill to go out and change the fashion landscape with their newly acquired skills.
Fikpo, who was represented by Mr Aham Osuchukwu, the State Coordinator of NDE, admonished the beneficiaries to use themselves as a medium of advertising for their products by wearing their product and creating awareness.
He said, as new entrepreneurs, they should not look for shops to rent, but operate from their parents, husbands or own rooms until they become financially stable and ready to branch out.
Miss Princess Dumoyem, a beneficiary of the empowerment, expressed gratitude to the NDE management for training and resettlement.
She said: “As for me, I have started making money by producing shoes and bags for people, my colleagues here can attest to that.
In my hand now are at least ten offers waiting to be satisfied, hence making the repayment of the loan easier.