The Benue State coordinator of the Empowering Nigerian Youths for Prosperity (N-POWER) programme , Mrs Grace Akuul, has enjoined jobs seekers in the state to avail themselves of the available job opportunities under the scheme .
The state coordinator, who spoke with The Point in Makurdi, the state capital, disclosed that the quota for the state had not yet been filled and called on job seekers to hasten moves towards grabbing the existing enlistment with a view to becoming self- reliant in the
state.
Akuul maintained that over 22,000 personnel had been recruited into the programme in the state since inception, yet the state’s quota had not yet been filled . She further sought the assistance of traditional rulers, religious organizations as well as opinion leaders to prevail on their subjects to come forward and fill the quota meant for the State.
She also stressed the need for good spirited individuals to create awareness, especially for youths at the grassroots to participate massively so as to reduce the rate of unemployment among the youths in the rural areas of the
State.
According to Akuul, when the programme was introduced in the state, so much was done through clergy men, traditional rulers and opinion leaders on
awareness creation, yet the figure meant for the state has not been filled . She therefore urged them to intensify efforts towards getting their people to come and fill the gap.
She however debunked the allegation that some officials are depriving beneficiaries of posting, saying “those making such accusation are economical with truth,”
adding, “ since we came on board, all that is due to beneficiaries was done according to lay down procedures and therefore such thing does not exist.”
The coordinator disclosed that so far, about 888,260 volunteers have benefited from the scheme even as she stressed that even
the figure is grossly inadequate of what the scheme anticipated and thereby sued for more enrollment .
