NEDC launches initiative to tackle unemployment in Taraba

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has flagged off an initiative to reduce unemployment in the six states of the region.

This was observed on Thursday as several youths were empowered with essential skills in renewable energy and eco-friendly production.

The youths who were trained in solar energy, charcoal briquette production, and the fabrication of energy-efficient stoves, were observed to have been presented with starter packs shortly after completing their training

Speaking, the Taraba State coordinator of the commission, Bashir Hamanjoda Ngoroge, emphasized the importance of the program in addressing the region’s unemployment challenges.

The initiative, according to him, was aimed at equipping participants with sustainable skills that can lead to self-employment and contribute to environmental sustainability.

“We are focused on utilizing waste to create something meaningful, while also reducing the rate of unemployment in the Northeast,” he said.

He warned the beneficiaries against selling the starter packs, urging them to view the opportunity as a pathway to a better future.

The programme, he said, reflects the NEDC’s broader strategy to foster economic development and improve livelihoods in the Northeast region of Nigeria.

Announcing that the commission has trained no fewer than 500 individuals across seven categories, with selection based on merit, he affirmed that the commission will not rest on its oars pending when unemployment is drastically reduced in the region.

Some of the participants who spoke with The Guardian vowed to make good use of the opportunity to better the lots of their communities.