The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Thursday revealed that the Agency granted N100,000 each as loan to 108 unemployed persons in Bayelsa, in December 2021.

The Bayelsa Coordinator of NDE, Mr Aham Osuchukwu, disclosed this at the orientation of the beneficiaries and the commencement of the training of 50 participants of Agricultural Extension Training (AET) in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

The Coordinator said additional 50 youths were currently undergoing training on Agricultural Extension Services Provision.

He said the training was to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute to the growth of the country, adding that these were the four programmes of the agency.

According to him, “We are here for the orientation of our loan beneficiaries of Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (AES), Community Based Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (CBAES). Sustainable Agricultural Development Empowerment Scheme (SADES) and Graduate Agricultural Empowerment Scheme (GAES).

“Also here for the orientation are 50 participants of Agricultural Extension Training (AET).

“National Directorate of Employment (NDE) came into existence on March 1986. It is charged with the responsibility to design and implement schemes to combat mass unemployment among unemployed youth, women, retired persons, amongst others.

“It has four core departments and Rural Employment Promotion Department (formerly Agricultural Department) is an integral part.

“It is in fulfillment of its mandate to reduce unemployment in the agricultural sector that we are here today,” he said.

He said that the combined orientation was made up of 108 beneficiaries of AES, CBAES, SADES and GAES that were granted loans of N100,000 each in December. 2021.

The Coordinator urged the beneficiaries to repay their loans dutifully, responsibly and timely so that other unemployed persons could benefit as well.

Earlier, in her address, Mrs Maths Wokoro, the Head of Department, Rural Employment Promotion, urged the beneficiaries to utilize the fund in investing on what they have learnt, not to divert it.

She also advised the participants to take advantage of NDE programmes in order to be self-reliant and contribute their quota to the development of the country.

Mr Livinus Osumze, one of the beneficiaries of the loan, who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the Federal Government and NDE for the gesture and promised to that they (beneficiaries) would be a good ambassador of the scheme.

The loan was administered and disbursed by selected commercial banks.