NDE engages 50 youths to boost food sufficiency in Gombe
By Chima Azubuike
No fewer than 50 beneficiaries have been engaged by National Directorate of Employment under the Rural Employment Promotion Department in Post-Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme to boost food security in Gombe State.
The three-day SADTS training workshop using Knowledge Attitude Skills Habit model, Director-General of NDE Abubakar Fikpo, described as quite apt and timely, adding that agriculture as an indigenous occupation in Nigeria, is considered a catalyst for the development of any nation.
Represented by NDE North-East Zonal Director, Alao Babatunde, Fikpo said agriculture holds the ace for reducing unemployment, stressing that its activities have gone through different developmental stages as result of government policies and intervention programmes.
He said, “Considering the fact that it will seek to remove the drudgery in processing agricultural enterprises and also identifies agricultural sector employment, provide every necessary information needed to source for start-up capital from Federal Government intervention initiatives and policies.
“This intervention of government has also shown that agriculture can be a key driver of growth and development. To achieve this goal requires the promotion of agricultural policies that will improve the income of the poor.”
Also speaking, Gombe State NDE Coordinator, Jediel Stephen, enumerated the benefits of the workshop to include boost proficient employment opportunities, raise participants standard of living.
“Target and assist in achieving food sufficiency Give strategic public support for land development and to promote better use of Nigerians rural land and their resources
“Improve and enhance foreign exchange earnings Sustain the growth of raw materials for Industrial sector. Enhance products quality and availability,” Stephen added.
