NDE disburses agricultural loan to off-season farmers in Benue

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The National Directorate of Employment, NDE has disbursed loans to off-season farmers in Benue State under its Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES)
Director – General, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo said 28 of the total 700 beneficiaries of the loan across 14 states in the country are Benue unemployed farmers.
He said the facility was meant to enable beneficiaries establish agric-businesses of their choice inorder to become self-reliant, create wealth and reduce poverty.
Represented by Benue State Coordinator, NDE Akile Patrick, Mallam Fikpo noted that the increasing rate of unemployment neccessiated the idea of entrepreneurial and agricultural enterprises to close the skills gap that exist among young graduates and school leavers searching for employment through its Rural Employment Promotion,REP.
“Today, we are here to flag off the provision of facilities to 700 beneficiaries under the 2023 Agricultural Enhancement Scheme (AES). Under this scheme, graduate trainees of various REP training schemes will be provided with facilities in the 14 states of the federation and FCT that will enable them start up or enhance their off farm agric-business in their chosen areas of interest to become self-employed, create wealth and generate employment opportunities for others,” he said.
The NDE boss reminded the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a rare opportunity which should not be allowed to fail, adding that the privilege for entrepreneurship offered them should be utilised for high premium multiplier effect in terms of increased job creation.