By Gbenga Akingbule.
North East Development Commission (NEDC) on Monday empowered 300 youths with briquette-making machines with a view to ensuring adequate waste recycling and provide income for the beneficiaries.
Gatekeepers News reports that the NEDC is replicating same empowerment programme for youths across region after they had received intensive training.
The Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali while presenting the briquettes making machines to the beneficiaries at the Commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital said he’s extremely hopeful that youths will put the machines into good use and tackle Indiscriminate waste disposal.
“I’m deeply encouraged by the disposition of the youths, we have succeeded in creating new jobs for many youths across the Noth East region,” Alkali said.
Also, the facilitator of the training for the youths Dr ,Zainab Chellube lauded the NEDC for the gesture and urged the Commission to sustaing the good work.
“This initiative by the NEDC Is targeted at addressing one of the major issues facing Borno State- Indiscriminate disposal of waste.
“So far, we have been able to train close to 300 persons, the first training was for scavengers and trainers while the second was strictly trainers.
“From research, we realised that Maiduguri generates 105 kg of waste and the waste are being disposed Indiscriminatel , this situation will sure be addressed by the youths we’ve trained. ” Dr Chellube said
Mohammed Kolo , one of the beneficiaries commended the NEDC for the training and subsequent presentation of briquette making machines, promising to empower other jobless youths in his community.
“I’m not only going to put this machine into good use but I’m already thinking of training 5 jobless youths,” Kolo said.
