The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has distributed N30 million worth of equipment to unemployed skilled graduates in Cross River.

The Director General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Mohammed made the fact known in Calabar at the graduation and distribution ceremony of Resettlement Equipment/Tools for the beneficiaries.

The resettlement programme was a collaboration between Rep. Essien Ayi, the member representing Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency and NDE.

The equipment distributed to beneficiaries included refrigerators, sewing machines, computer accessories, photocopying machines and hairdressing tools.

Represented by the State Coordinator of NDE, Mr Edem Duke, the director-general said 80 women and youths benefited from the programme aimed at helping them to establish their own businesses.

“It is gratifying to know that today’s occasion is achieved through a collaborative effort which is one of the emphases of the directorate in her continuous attempt at combating mass unemployment in the country,’’ Mohammed said.

He said that the youths received training for six weeks in trades, such as computer operation, computer repairs, hair dressing, catering, lawn mowing, GSM repairs, cosmetology and interior decoration/event management.

Mohammed advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of opportunities given by the Federal Government to set up workshops and manage them profitably to enable them to repay their loans promptly.

He appealed to individuals, especially members of the National Assembly, to emulate the initiative of the legislator to reduce unemployment.

In his remark, the Acting Governor of Cross River, Mr Efiok Cobham, commended Ayi for embarking on the programme and urged him to do more for his people.

He said that the initiative was in line with the state government’s empowerment agenda for wealth creation for the people.

Cobham said the state government had carried out empowerment and capacity building programmes for youths in the state, including offering micro-credits for more than 200 youths.

“Our youths must begin to learn to become entrepreneurs, the jobs are not available anymore and we must get our youths off the streets in order to be gainfully engaged,’’ he said.

Ayi, who was represented by Mr Patrick Ugbe, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, called on youths to learn and become employers of labour.

He advised the beneficiaries to put the tools to good use to improve their lives.

“Let me use this opportunity to inform all the youths in Cross River to prepare to key into a programme that will be coming up in 2013, this is Youths Empowerment and Social Support Operation, (YESSO),’’ Ayi said.

He said YESSO was a World Bank-funded programme to be executed with the support of the state government.

“I believe there is a need before us in our constituency to encourage a build-up of artisans and fruitfully engage the attention of young people, especially the less privileged,’’ he said.

The legislator appealed to the youths to inculcate the habit of hard work to benefit from entrepreneurship and possession of skills.

“Their effort and eventual success in making appropriate use of the grant will in no small way encourage the continuity of this initiative which will see more people benefiting years after year,’’ he said.

He commended NDE for creating the atmosphere that ensured the success of the programme.