The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to the fight against unemployment in the country.

Director-General of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo said this while declaring open a workshop on solar power installation and maintenance organised by the NDE in Owerri on Tuesday.

Nuhu-Fikpo, represented by the NDE Coordinator in Imo, Mrs Ngozi Ihenacho said that the weeklong workshop was aimed at empowering unemployed Nigerians with viable skills capable of taking them away from the labour market.

 This, he said, was in line with Federal Government’s efforts to lift Nigerians out of poverty and make them self reliant.

According to him, 925 persons would be trained across the federation, 25 from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

 He thanked the Federal Government for approving the program and providing necessary logistics such as training kits, breakfast and a lunch pack for the trainers.

He also commended the Directorate’s Department of Special Public Works for bringing in expert trainers from the nation’s capital to facilitate the workshop.

 “We are grateful to the Federal Government and to staff of our Department of Special Public Works (SPW) for making this workshop a reality.

 “Each trainee will receive a training bag containing tools for the training as well as breakfast and lunch to equip them for optimal performance “, he said.

Speaking, NDE’s Director of SPW, Mrs Roseline Olawunmi said that trainees would be helped to acquire a new career in design and installation of solar power panels so as to become employers of labour.

Olawunmi, represented by the Head, Department of SPW in Imo, Mr Ikechukwu Duru urged participants at the workshop to justify the resources expended in organising the program.

One of the trainees, Mr Harrison Uche thanked the NDE for organising the workshop and pledged to put the knowledge he would gather to best use.