ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has begun the training of 130 Bayelsa State women in the production of tye and dye, stoning, beading of materials and natural organic products in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Director-General of NDE, Mr Nuhu Fikpo, represented by the Bayelsa Coordinator, Mr Aham Osuchukwu, made this known on Tuesday at the opening of the training.
Fikpo said that 50 of the women would be trained in tyeing and dying of fabrics, another 50 on event decoration, make up and gele tyeing, while 30 would be trained in organic products, stoning and beading of clothes.
He urged the women to embrace the training with all seriousness, noting that they were some of the viable sectors currently providing employment opportunities in the country.
He stated that through NDE’s intervention, the Federal Government was providing employment for the unemployed youths, increasing food production, ensuring food security, enhancing quality of life, promoting youths’ self-esteem, among others.
Fikpo stated that the week-long training was a gender-sensitive training aimed at equipping the womenfolk only with skills that would enable them to become productive and assist their families financially.
He stated: “Equally the skills will make them employers of labour and reduce poverty and unemployment in the society.
“They will also be making antiseptic soap, black soap, facial scrubs, hair cream, petroleum jelly, perfume oil, ordinary perfume and anti-wrinkle/ageing cream.
“Natural organic products are produced without the use of chemicals but with only natural products.”
He urged beneficiaries to take the training seriously as more than half of them would be empowered to start businesses of their own based on what they had been trained in.
He equally announced that stipends would be provided to them during the training.