By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Jigawa State has provided N2.1 million worth of skill acquisition equipment to seven Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to support their journey toward self-employment.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Federal Secretariat in Dutse, the NDE State Coordinator, Alhaji Hamza Garba, stated that the beneficiaries were part of 81 PWDs trained under the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative. The program, conducted in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), focused on demand-driven vocational skills.
According to Garba, the initiative aims to empower participants to become self-reliant and even employers of labor. Each of the seven beneficiaries received working equipment and cash support worth over N309,000 to establish tailoring businesses in their respective communities.
He emphasized that the support package is a revolving loan, which beneficiaries will repay in installments, allowing others to benefit in the future.
Garba also commended the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities for its role in mobilizing and managing PWD participants nationwide, ensuring the program’s success.