Business
Physically-Challenged Hails NDE’s Skills Acquisition Programme
A physically-challenged person, Mr Muktar Ahmad, has commended the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) over its special skills acquisition programme for persons with disabilities.
Ahmad, 25, told newmen in Dutse on Monday that the programme would enable persons with special needs to learn trade and become productive.
The physically challenged, a former street beggar, was among the 50 persons with disabilities currently undergoing NDE skills acquisition training.
He said the programme would impart relevant knowledge and skill to enable them become self-reliant.
“The training is commendable, it will enable me learn trade, develop my potential and contribute to the socio-economic development of the society. “I am a street beggar, but with this God-given opportunity, I would be able to live a meaningful life and help others,” Ahmad said.
Another trainee, Zainab Muhammad, a divorcee, said the training would assist her to take good care of herself and children.
“We thank the NDE for the assistance and we hope the programme would be sustained to enable more women and other vulnerable groups to benefit from it,” she said. It would be recalled that the NDE had commenced a three-month skills acquisition training for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities in the state.
Malam Muhammmad Sambo, the state Coordinator of the directorate, said the training was designed to train people with disabilities, beggars, commercial sex workers, widows and other vulnerable groups.
Sambo said that the training was designed to engage this category of Nigerians in meaningful activities, which was capable of reducing social vices. He said the trainees would be exposed to knitting, pomade making, tailoring, leather work, curry processing and beads making. The coordinator said that each of the trainees would receive N2, 000 as monthly stipend while N20, 000 would be provided as resettlement package to enable them set up their businesses.