The Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr Nasir Ladan,has advised unemployed youths to venture into small scale businesses in the informal sector in order to be self-reliant.
Ladan gave the advice in Calabar at the orientation programme organised for 30 unemployed youths by the Basic Business Training (BBT) unit of the agency.
Ladan, who was represented by the State Coordinator of NDE, Mr Gabriel Udam, said that the training was organised to train graduates, artisans and school leavers on the rudimentary aspect of business management skills.
He explained that the five-day training was part of the directorate’s efforts in creating employment in the informal sector, adding that The Tide source reports that youths were drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state.
“As we commence the BBT scheme today, I wish to inform you that most developed nations of the world did not achieve economic prosperity because of the large corporations that exist therein.
“They achieved prosperity through the small scale businesses based in the informal sector that provided employment for the majority of their populace.
“It is for this reason that the NDE encourages the establishment of small scale businesses which have the potential to end up as big entities depending on the commitment of the business owners,’’ he said.
According to him, the role of the local barber, shoe shiner, hair dresser, and similar players in the economy cannot be disregarded.
The NDE boss further said that the training was also meant to build-up the confidence of first-timers with a view to overcoming business failures.
He encouraged them to take the training seriously, and that it was designed to inculcate the spirit of entrepreneurship, creativity and self-reliance in them.
Responding on behalf of the trainees, Mr James Okoi, promised that they would pay adequate attention to the training with a view to acquiring the basic training skills needed for today’s job market.