Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has reassured Nigerians of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to lifting more Nigerians out of poverty.

Mr Nuhu-Fikpo said this during the inauguration of a two-day advanced business training organised by the NDE as part of its Extended Special Public Works Programme in Owerri on Thursday.

Mr Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by NDE Imo coordinator, Ngozi Ihenacho, said 540 trainees and 180 persons from each of the three geopolitical zones of the state had earlier benefitted from the directorate’s Basic Business Training.

He added that the ESPW was an offshoot of the federal government’s Special Public Works Programme organised to capture 774,000 nationwide, 1,000 persons from each local council area.

According to him, the initiative aimed to address the unemployment needs of employable Nigerians to lift more persons out of poverty.

He urged the participants to take the training seriously, adding that those with outstanding performances at the end of the training would stand the chance of receiving business grants from the government.

“We are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for this step in the right direction which demonstrates that the federal government is committed to lifting Nigerians out of poverty,” he stated. “I urge you, my dear participants, to show commitment and take instructions from your trainers as those who perform well will have a chance of receiving grants for either start-up of new businesses or enhancement of existing ones.”

Roseline Olaomi, NDE’s director of the Public Works Department, said the participants would receive free lunch throughout the training to indicate the government’s commitment to the programme.

(NAN)