By ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto-
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has flagged off the 2022 Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS) for 38 participants alongside orientation of loans to be disbursed to the 2021 trainees of the scheme in Sokoto.
Speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs Eunice added that an additional 100 unemployed graduates will also be trained in modern poultry and vegetable production.
Mrs Eunice, who represented the Director General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Nuhu Fipko, said their programme is in line with the Federal Government’s policy on agriculture for employment.
While stating that each of the 38 SADTS beneficiary will be empowered with a loan package of 100,000 to start any agribusiness of their choice, Mrs Eunice said the loan will attract a single digit simple interest rate of 9 percent to be paid within 3 years.
Mrs Eunice classified the beneficiaries as, “12 for Sustainable Agricultural Development Empowerment Scheme, 15 for Agricultural Enhancement Scheme, 3 for Community-Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme and 8 fir Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme”.
Speaking earlier, Mr Joshua Fagbemi, who represented the Director Rural Employment Promotion Department, said the aim of the training is to inculcate the idea of seeing agriculture as a business in the minds of unemployed graduates.
He therefore added that at the end of the three months training, beneficiaries will appreciate the multiple opportunities in agric-businesses.
“By the time you finished the training and wholesomely apply what you have learnt, you will become an employer of labour rather than waiting to be employed by somebody else.
“Do not also forget that these Agricultural loans are not made for adding new wives, opening saloons or any other businesses except agricultural related ones.
‘The FG is not so particular about the money given to you but only tries to show you that you can be an employer of labour yourself which is why the N100,000 loans repayment begins after 6 months. And you are to pay it up after 3 years as all that you pay is just N3500.
“The loan is not a national cake, which therefore explains why you must pay back so that it can go round to others as well. The aim is to help encourage graduates to embrace agriculture”, he said.
Giving emphasis on the importance of the SADTS, Mr Nura Mahe Harande, the Special Adviser on Youths to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, admonished beneficiaries to count themselves lucky to have been given the opportunities.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the knowledge acquired from the agricultural training.
Nura Mahe Harande also highlighted other programmes embarked upon by the Sokoto State Government towards making unemployed youths self reliant in the Sokoto.
Appreciating NDE on behalf of other participants, Ms. Rukaya Musa said they would utilize the knowledge gained from the trainings just as she assured that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the grants given to them.
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