NDE Moves To Build Competent Workforce In Oyo, Urges GAP Participants To Be Good Ambassadors
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As part of efforts to improve the employability of the teeming unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions, in the country, the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Oyo State, has recruited 23 unemployed graduates into its Graduate Attachment Programme, GAP.
Speaking on behalf of the NDE Director General, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, at the flag-off/orientation ceremony for GAP participants in Ibadan, the State Coordinator, NDE Oyo State, Mrs Steve-Ogundipe Olayinka, explained that the programme was a social workfare intervention designed to address graduate unemployment by providing transient jobs to unemployed graduates. 
The Director General also discribed the programme as an appropriate vehicle which aims at mproving the employability of the country’s youths, closing skills gaps through targeted skills-to-job training and building a competent workforce.
The D.G who urged the participants to be good ambassadors pointed out that the focus of NDE is on addressing the rising unemployment rate in the country through laudable schemes which aims at building the capacity of the unemployed in line with the objective of the Federal Government drive on Job creation and poverty eradication. 
Also speaking, the Director, Special Public Works, (SPW) Abuja, Mrs Roseline Olaomi, who was represented by the head of SPW Department, NDE Oyo State, Mr Adedotun Adu, explained that the NDE through its various activities have also created wealth through qualitative trainings and internship programmes leading to poverty reduction in the country.
Olaomi futher explained that the essence of the graduates participation in GAP was to confer a competitive edge to talents for their retention in organisations where they are posted to serve since the exposure allows the employers a full assessment of the intern potential.
She therefore, advised participants of the programme to develop a focused and healthy attitude towards the scheme so as to justify the investment being made on them by the government and commended stakeholders in the state for their committment towards reducing the spate of unemployment in the country.
