The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has engaged 50 unemployed graduates in Edo in its empowerment programme, Graduates Attachment Programme (GAP).
The NDE Director-General, Dr. Nasiru Argungu, represented by State Coordinator, Mrs Ayo Edegbai, flagged off training on Friday in Benin.
According to him, the NDE initiated the three months’ programme to reduce the rate of unemployment among graduates in the state.
“These graduates would be paid a monthly stipend of N15,000 by NDE.
“This is in addition to what the organisation to which they are posted could offer as their contribution to national youth development and mankind.
“It is expected that the organisations will absorb the graduates afterwards,” he said.
The director general said the programme would provide the participants an enduring working experience, as they would be posted to various organisations across the state for apprenticeship.
He explained that under the nationwide programme, 50 graduates were recruited and be attached to various government and private companies in the state.
“Graduates will be attached to companies for a period of three months. It is an opportunity to inculcate good quality enterprise in them before being employed.
“It is also a way to bridge the gap between the periods students graduated and the period they waited before securing job.
“It will also create opportunities that may lead the participants to reality of modern technologies in market towards national self-reliance.” he said.
He disclosed that 600 unemployed graduates had benefited from GAP since its inception in 2004 in the state.
He urged the beneficiaries to derive maximum benefits from the programme and build their capacities.
