The National Directorate of Empowerment (NDE) has commenced the training of 70 Nasarawa women on different empowerment skills.
Nasarawa state NDE coordinator, Mr. Chris Bamsida, disclosed this while conducting a five-day training for the women and other loan beneficiaries in Lafia.
He explained that 30 women would undergo intensive training in souvenir skill, 20 in confectionary while 20 others would be trained on tie and dye skills to them self-reliant and to contribute positively to the development of the society.
“The WEB scheme will be conducted for five days starting from 4th-8th March, 2024, and competent trainers are engaged in the skill sets to offer the beneficiaries the opportunities to become professionals,” he said.
Bamsida said micro enterprises remained the engine room to generate income, self-employment and empowerment for small and medium scale business operators.
He added that 98 beneficiaries of Micro Economic Enhancement Scheme (MEES) would each be disbursed with the loan of N20, 000 only.
“Also, three Mature Peoples Program (MPP) beneficiaries will each benefit the loan facility of N1, 500,000 to manage their chosen businesses,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to be committed and responsive to ensuring the objectives of the scheme is achieved.
He explained that, “Average daily attendance and cumulative must not be less than 85 percent to qualify each beneficiary for empowerment.
“At the end of the WEB training the sum of N20, 000 only will be disbursed to each beneficiary that satisfies the conditions of the scheme.”
The NDE coordinator however emphasised that all beneficiaries must repay their loan to pave way for other unemployed persons to benefit, considering the rising rate of unemployment and related consequences.