In a bid to address youth unemployment, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has expressed its commitment to working out a collaborative partnership with the Taraba State Government geared towards the creation of employment opportunities for the unemployed and less privileged in the state.
This was made known in a statement by Edmund Onwuliri, the Deputy Director Information & Public Relations of the NDE.
According to the statement, the Director-General of the NDE Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of the State, Architect Darius Dickson Ishaku, in Jalingo.
Mallam Fikpo stated that the partnership will be actualised through training programmes, schemes and other empowerment initiatives that will positively impact the lives of the unemployed, unskilled and less privileged in the state.
The NDE boss described his visit to the state as “home coming” as he used the opportunity to formally introduce himself to the Governor after his recent confirmation as the substantive Chief Executive of the Federal Government agency.
He further said that he was in the state to also condole the Governor and the good people of Taraba State over the demise of the Chairman of Taraba State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Aku Uka of Wukari, late Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi.
Governor Darius Ishaku, while interacting with the NDE Director-General had expressed joy at the fact that Mallam Fikpo is the first indigene of Taraba State in recent times who deemed it fit to touch base with his roots after being appointed into a strategic federal government position. He prayed for God’s guidance, wisdom and courage for Fikpo to credibly discharge his duties.
He promised to provide the necessary support for the proposed partnership with the NDE to be successfully implemented. Governor Ishaku equally affirmed his commitment to assisting the agency with a befitting office in Jalingo. He added that his administration is irrevocably committed to the training and empowerment of the youth towards becoming entrepreneurs, creators of jobs, trainers and mentors to other unemployed persons and not jobseekers.
While in Taraba State, the NDE helmsman also visited the Palace of the late Aku Uka of Wukari, where he condoled the Jukun Traditional Council over the passing of the eminent Traditional Ruler and Chairman of the Taraba State Council of traditional Rulers.
Mallam Fikpo described the passing of the Royal father as a very unfortunate incident and prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed and the preservation of his worthy legacies. He also prayed for wisdom to enable the Kingmakers choose a suitable successor.
