The Governor delivered an address at an empowerment ceremony for youths trained under the Rural Agricultural Development Training Scheme. He emphasized that the training program focused on poverty eradication and self-employment. Over 200 youths received a loan of 100,000 Naira each for agricultural skills training. The government will pay interest and guarantee the loans. The Governor encouraged the youths to repay the loans within 18 months to be self-reliant and contribute to Ekiti's development.

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AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF
EKITI STATE, DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE NDE/EEDA
EMPOWERMENT CEREMONY OF TRAINED YOUTHS UNDER
THE RURAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
SCHEME/RESETTLEMENT CEREMONY OF NDE
ON MONDAY. 12TH DECEMBER, 2011
PROTOCOLS
I am glad to be in your midst on this auspicious occasion of the
empowering our youths for self actualisation. This programme, as you
may be aware, focuses on the Rural Agricultural Development
Training Scheme of the National Directorate of Employment in
collaboration with Ekiti Enterprise and Economic Development Agency.
To me, this programme is both timely and critical particularly at this
stage of poverty eradication across the country. More importantly as it
is in tandem with our mission of making poverty history in Ekiti State.
As you are aware, the idea of National Directorate of Employment was
conceived to address the problem of unemployment among the
youths. It is on record that the Directorate, since inception, has been
able to design and implement various programmes on acquisition of
skills and job creation for the youths, particularly in Ekiti State. The
event of today is one of the efforts.
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Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am aware that
these beneficiaries of this programme have undergone four (4)
months training in 12 (twelve) different Agricultural Skills and
delighted to hear that this set has performed creditably well in terms
of attendance and determination to excel.
I want to seize this opportunity to encourage our youths to be
engaged in self-employment activities instead of relying on white
collar job which is not readily available. I am sure the lucky
beneficiaries of today have gained tremendously during the training
and they are far beyond where they were before the training.
It may interest you to note that the State Government has secured
credit facility of N22.9M to be released through Fidelity Bank Plc to
229 trained beneficiaries of the programme from three senatorial
districts of the State. Each beneficiary will be entitled to a loan facility
of N100,000.00 only.
In addition, this administration will be responsible for payment of
interest on each of the loans disbursed. In other words the loan is
interest free. Also, the state Government through Ekiti Enterprise and
Economic Development Agency will stand as your guarantors to
Fidelity Bank on the loan Scheme.
Having gone all this long to encourage you, it would be a delight to
the government that you honour the 18 months payback period. The
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first six months of this is the moratorium period. You are
therefore expected to complete your repayment at the end of the 18
months.
It is my expectation that you would return to your various Local
Governments with a renewed impetus to be self reliant and thereby
contribute your quota to the development of our dear Ekiti State.
At this juncture, I wish to express my appreciation to the Hon.
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Barrister Chukwuemeka Wogu
and the Director General of the NDE for this laudable programme
towards alleviating poverty of the vast army of unemployed persons in
the country, Ekiti State Inclusive.
I also wish to congratulate the Coordinator of National Directorate of
Employment, Ekiti State who shares the laudable dream of this
Administration to alleviate poverty amongst our people most
especially the youths. I want to urge you not to rest on your oars, as
the State still needs more programmes that would better the lots of
our people. The NDE can be rest assured that the State Government
will continue to support its initiatives at reducing unemployment in the
State.
I sincerely thank you all for being part of this memorable occasion.
Thank you and God bless.
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