NDE trains 50 people in goat production in Gombe

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has trained 50 people on goat production in Gombe State under the directorate’s Rural Employment Promotion Department.

According to NDE Director General Abubakar Fikpo who addressed the trainees, three goats would be provided by the Directorate out of which two are she-goats and one he-goat.

“Goat production is the first of its kind, you are the pioneers of this programme, this is a litmus test in 18 states of the federation. The rest will try it after your set must have been successful. You are going to be given three goats, two she-goats, one he-goat, the cash components we are going to give you, will enable you buy feed for the goats.

“You will rear these goats for a period of 30 months, the first six months we will not ask you to pay loan, that’s when you will expect your she-goats to start delivering, after six months the one they have delivered will be due for another delivery then we will collect one from you. This will continue for a period of two years and half. By implication NDE will give you three goats but you will pay with four goats,” he said.

While emphasising on the need for beneficiaries to show transparency, integrity in the programme, Fikpo said the Directorate would not tolerate excuses.

“You must be someone with passion for these goats, not just because you want to pick it as a means of living, you have to develop interest for it. You have to be transparent in the business and be sincere to yourself. We don’t want a situation where you will say the goat died yesterday or went astray,” Fikpo added.

Fikpo was represented by the Acting State Coordinator of Gombe NDE, Jediel Stephen.

Also speaking, Acting North-East zonal Director, Moses Uba, encouraged the 50 beneficiaries to show genuine interest in programme in order to establish themselves.