The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it has started the training of 30 unemployed youths in waste recycling under the Specia Public Works (SPW) Scheme in Taraba.

The director general of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo said this at the flag-off and orientation ceremony on Thursday in Jalingo.

He said that the training would provide skills to the unemployed youths toward achieving the ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative in Nigeria.

Fikpo was represented by Alhaji Shehu Danjuma, Taraba State Coordinator of the NDE.

He said that the scheme was also aimed at providing a source of livelihood to unemployed youths through the recycling of waste resources for present and future generations.

“The scheme would improve the standard of living of most Nigerian youths as well as impact positively on climate change in their environments.

It is also designed to provide skills in various components of waste recycling to the youths and empower them to be self-employed upon the completion of their three months training,” he said.

Fikpo said that the scheme which commenced in 2019 in other states was designed to be implemented in three phases in Taraba falling into the third phase.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the window to become self-reliant, adding that such would do good to the individuals as well as society.

The DG commended President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously adopting the initiative toward job creation as well as the enhancement of the source of livelihood in Nigeria.

In her remarks, Hajia Jummai Umar, Head of the Special Public Works Department of NDE said that 30 participants in the scheme were drowned from the 16 local government areas in the state.

She said that the participants would be paid N10,000 monthly throughout the duration of the training.

Umar said that participants would be deployed to various organisations to learn skills in waste recycling and management.

She advised them to be diligent as some organisations had already indicated their interest to retain good participants when they complete their training.

In his speech, Mallam Sani Iliyasu, Village Head of Jalingo urged the participants to take their training as a means to end poverty in their life.

Iliyasu also urged them to share the knowledge they acquire with others who might not have the opportunity to benefit from the scheme.

He commended the Federal government for using NDE to develop such a wholesome scheme.

Iliyasu said that the scheme would impact positively on their immediate environment through waste disposal.

Mr Iliyasu Mohammed, one of the participants who spoke on behalf of other participants commended the FG for the scheme.

Mohammed said that he was sure that the participants would make Nigerians proud after their training.

He said that the scheme would go a long way in addressing youths’ unemployment situation in Taraba and the country at large.