The Director General, National Directorate of Employment, (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, has disclosed that the setting up of the NDE-efcc (NDE-Enterprise and Finance Counselling Clinic) training was borne out of the desire to provide opportunity for business persons facing challenges to obtain solutions through experience sharing.
He disclosed this in Umuahia, on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the NDE-Efcc training under the Small Scale Enterprise department for 25 graduate business owners in Abia State.
The Director-General of NDE, Abubakar Fikpo, whose keynote address was delivered by his representative, the State Coordinator of NDE Abia,, Mrs Tessy Wachuku said that the counselling clinic was designed for business owners who are experiencing challenges in their businesses in order to avert business failures.
According to him, the counselling clinic will also help the participants to build solid business management skills and become employers of labour thereby helping to curb youth restiveness in the society.
Fikpo decried the increasing rate of social vices in the country, which has equally given rise to unemployment amongst our graduate youths.
He called on the directorate’s business trainees to be wise in their financial investment as the NDE-efcc scheme is aimed at guiding business persons towards solid business management.
Earlier in her remark, the Head of Department, Small Scale Enterprise Department at the headquarters, Mrs Chikodi Ike added that this training is the first batch in the year designed to equip unemployed graduates with skills required to manage small business effectively.
Ike who was represented by Mrs Caroline Azubuike, disclosed that at the end of the counselling clinic, the participants will be provided with starter packs to start or boost their businesses.
Also, the Head, Small Scale Enterprise Department, Mr Friday Ukaegbu in his speech, appreciated the management of NDE for selecting Abia State as one of the states to benefit from the program.
One of the beneficiaries of NDE – efcc program in 2021, Mrs Ngozi Smart – Ukonu, who is now the CEO of Lembet Enterprises shared her success story and gave a talk on Entrepreneurship.
Other resource persons at the ceremony were Mr Andrew Ezeigbo who spoke on the need to form cooperatives and Mr OC. Onungwa, Head of Job Centre unit who threw more light on the activities of the program departments of NDE.
Responding on behalf of other participants, Mr Chibuike Imah appreciated the management of NDE for the opportunity and assured them that they will not make light of the opportunity.