By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has commenced training of unemployed persons in the Community development Training Scheme, in Ondo state.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the Director-General of the NDE, Mallam Nuhu Fikpo, said that the scheme was designed to fight the scourge of poverty, joblessness and penury.

Fikpo who was represented by the Ondo State Coordinator of NDE, Mr Adelodun Olusegun, lamented that “The challenge of unemployment is very rife in several nations of the world.

According to him, “This challenge comes with several unpalatable effects and impacts on the people and the larger society. Unemployment breed poverty, hunger, low self esteem, depression, frustration, sicknesses and in some cases suicide.

“Unemployed and frustrated individuals are predisposed to prostitution, thuggery, theft and other unwholesome involvement which constitutes threat to the larger society.

“To prevent all these devastating occurrences, NDE was born and have been deploying several strategies to combat this menace – unemployment.

Fikpo added that ” designing and implementing programmes to combat mass unemployment is one of the mandates of the Directorate.

” I want to congratulate all of you participating in this programme that is designed for your needed and desired emancipation.

‘ lt however needs to be stated that while the Federal Government of Nigeria through the NDE is striving to liberate the citizens through employment generation and wealth creation, citizens participating in this scheme must also pay attention to get the best.

“For those of you that have been enlisted, you need to cooperate with us so that you can be enlightened, equipped, enabled, envisioned, energized and eventually emancipated.

” Mere enlistment without the necessary passion will not bring the desired and desirable results.

“To successfully fulfill our mandate in liberating you, your maximum cooperation throughout the program duration is highly essential.

The DG, therefore solicited for regular attendance, rapt attention, right assimilation on the part of participants

Fikpo said that ” the Directorate derives pleasure in ensuring that those of you participating in this scheme are liberated.

He assured the participants that “NDE will keep devising strategies and evolving every legitimate means in ensuring that poverty is reduced, employments are generated and wealths are created