No fewer than 120 Gombe youths including Persons With Disabilities on Tuesday received support from the National Directorate of Employment under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative.
According to the Director-General of NDE, Silas Agara, “the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative is designed to create employment opportunities, support the establishment of small-scale enterprises, promote agricultural productivity, improve rural infrastructure, and provide transient jobs.”
Agara who was represented at the symbolic presentation by the Gombe State Coordinator Asmau Marwa, noted that the initiative is built on three core pillars Skills Development, Resettlement, and Job Creation.
“By providing training and mentorship opportunities, we equip unskilled and unemployed persons with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern work and small-scale business environment,” Agara explained.
He noted that nation-wide atotal of 5,532 beneficiaries will be resettled with loans and starter packs to enable them to establish their own businesses.
Agara assured the beneficiaries saying “we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. We want you to use this opportunity to establish yourselves in businesses that would engineer growth and drive economic development.”
He disclosed that NDE has collaborated with several partners, including the Honourable Ministers of Labour and Employment, the National Commission for Persons with Disability, and private organizations like Skill Paddy and Timetrest Limited, expressing his “profound gratitude” to these partners for their support, which has led to the success of the initiative.
The Renewed Hope Employment Initiative commenced with a Flag-Off Ceremony on December 6, 2024, and has since achieved significant milestones. Agara concluded, “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address unemployment and promote economic development. Let us work together to build a brighter future for our communities.”
Agara urged beneficiaries to utilise the support provided judiciously, “I wish to assure beneficiaries who are receiving a life line today, that we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. We want you to use this opportunity given to you to establish yourselves in businesses that would engineer growth and drive economic development. Let us work together to build a brighter future for our communities. I look forward to the time your new businesses will begin to employ other Nigerian as you expand your business endeavours. I am very optimistic that we will experience that very soon and we can look back with pride at the how far and well we have come,” he added.
