About 791 persons from Akwa Ibom State are participating in in the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative of the Federal Government which is expected to last for about nineteen days.
The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Mr Silas Agara, disclosed this at an orientation programme for the beneficiaries of the third phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative of the Federal Government, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The NDE Director General, who was represented by the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the NDE, Mrs Uduak Essien, also challenged the beneficiaries to take ownership of the training programme and warned against lackadaisical attitude and complacency during the training.
He said the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, which is coordinated by the National Directorate of Employment, was one of federal government’s interventions as part of its commitment to addressing unemployment, promoting skills acquisition and creating opportunities for Nigerians to become economically productive.
Mr Agara urged beneficiaries not to see the programme as an an entitlement, but as an opportunity to acquire knowledge and practical skills that can positively transform their economic status.
“What you make of this opportunity will depend largely on your seriousness, commitment and willingness to learn. Our expectation is to have productive beneficiaries who have acquired practical skills and are better positioned to earn a decent livelihood and where posible, creat employment opportunities for others”.
Mr Agara also charged the trainers and officials to discharge their responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism, dedication, transparency and accountability to ensure the success of the programme.
“You are not merely transferring technical knowledge, you are helping to shape the future of beneficiaries entrusted to your care. I therefore urge you to be patient, committed and diligent in delivering the training and in ensuring that the objectives of the programme are achieved”, Mr Agara added.
Later in an interview with Radio Nigeria Correspondent, the Akwa Ibom State Director of the NDE, Mrs Uduak Essien, said participants are being trained on Vocational Skills Development, Rural Employment Promotion, Special Public Works and Small Scale Development.
She noted that successful participants who meet the prescribed criteria, would receive resettlement packages at the end of the training.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Richard Okon, thanked the federal government for the opportunity and promised to participate actively in the training programme.