From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has disbursed N4.2m loans to 42 unemployed persons in Kogi to embark on Agribusinesses
Each of the 42 beneficiaries will get the sum of one hundred thousand naira.
The loan is to cover four schemes under the Directorate’s Rural Employment Promotion Programme, namely; Agricultural Enhancement, Sustainable Agricultural Development, Community-Based Agricultural Empowerment and Graduate Agricultural Empowerment.
The Director General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo who was represented by the Kogi State Coordinator of the Directorate, Mallam Abubakar Zakari while speaking at the disbursement ceremony, said that the gesture is aimed at making the beneficiaries become self-reliant.
The Director General reiterated federal government’s commitment towards eradication of poverty, assuring that Buhari administration remains determined to lift over 100 million Nigerians out of hunger and desease.
According to him, agriculture is the mainstream of the nation’s economy as well as the only sector that will help tackle the alarming unemployment situation in Nigeria.
The facilitator of the programme, Mrs Beatrice Oruoyehu, a Deputy Director from NDE headquarters, Abuja, while presenting letters of offer of the loans to the beneficiaries, charged them to see the grant as a seed that would enable them grow in their businesses if invested well and managed wisely.
“Plant this money into any agribusiness of your choice and it will germinate and blossom” She maintained.
In his welcome address, the Head of Department of Rural Employment Promotion, Mallam Shaibu Omeiza reminded the beneficiaries of their responsibility to repay the loan with just 9% interest, 6 months moratorium period and 3 years duration.