NDE trains 50 unemployed women on spices production in Ebonyi
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Abakiliki, on Wednesday, commenced a five-day training session on spices and seasoning production for 50 unemployed women in Ebonyi.
Speaking at the opening of the programme, NDE Director-General, Malam Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, said the training would empower the women to become self-employed.
Represented by Mr Marcel Igboanude, NDE Coordinator in Ebonyi, Nuhu-Fikpo said the women were drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.
He said the five-day training is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle unemployment in the country.
”The participants will be engaged in practical production of spices and seasoning, they will be shown leaves and herbs that can be turned into spices and condiments.
”The programme is also aimed at improving our home-made products, and to make the women to become self-reliant,” he said.
Nuhu-Fikpo who decried over dependence on importation of seasoning into the country, said Nigeria has enormous raw materials for seasoning production.
”We have to take steps to drastically reduce importation of spices and seasoning. We have the raw materials in abundance,” he said.
Nuhu-Fikpo stated that the NDE, through its Women Empowerment Department, had provided entrepreneurship training and resettlement for no fewer than 500 women in Ebonyi.
He listed event management, interior decoration and cosmetology as some of the trainings given to the women.
”They were also trained in leather works, fondant cake making, tie and dye and clothe making,” he said.
Mrs Ugochi Nwizi, Head, Women Empowerment unit, NDE, Ebonyi, urged the participants to take the training seriously.
Some of the participants who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), commended the Federal Government for the gesture.
They pledged to make proper use of the experience and knowledge gained from the training.
One of them, Ozioma Nwafor, described the training as promising and well-intended. (NAN)
