The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced the training of 30 women and youths on environmental beautification in Ebonyi.

The Director-General of NDE, Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, said this at the orientation ceremony organized on Wednesday in Abakaliki for the 2022 batch of trainees .

Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by the Ebonyi Coordinator of the agency, said that the training was part of the job creation initiatives of the Federal Government.

He also described the exercise as apt and necessary for the economic growth of the nation.

He said that the participants would be trained for three months on moulding and laying of interlock blocks, tiling, Plaster of Paris and raising of flower nurseries.

The NDE boss said that the Environmental Beautification Training Scheme, initiated by NDE’s Special Public Works, could promote environmental renewal in habitats in urban and rural areas.

“It can promote such in towns and cities, offering skills in aesthetics, protection, sanitation, ornamentation, finishing and employability skills,” he said.

He said that the major objective of the scheme was to close skills gap; improve employability of the youths and build a competent workforce of technicians and artisans.

“This is also aimed at job creation and boosting public works programme through the empowerment of some participants with starter packs at the end of the training to help them start their own businesses.

He, therefore, urged the trainees to make the most of the opportunity and become employers of labour.

The agency’s Director, Special Public Works, Abuja, Mrs Roseline Olawumi, said that NDE was committed to empowering Nigerians.

Earlier, the Head of Special Public Works of the agency in Ebonyi, Mr Tony Ogwudu, urged the participants to uphold the popular maxim, which says that “there is dignity in labour”.

Ogwudu also advised them to take their training seriously.

According to him, it is a privilege provided for them to be useful to themselves and their immediate society.

One of the trainees, Mr Daniel Oreke, thanked the Federal Government and NDE for organising the programme for them.

Oreke promised to utilise the knowledge he would acquire at the training to improve his economy and that of his family.