ABUJA (Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Report) – The Federal Government in continuation with its training and empowerment programme for the youths and women in the Niger Delta region through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, has trained another batch of 154 youths and women on poultry and fishery farming and 47 others on confectionery and household technology.
The training which lasted for two weeks was brought to conclusion over the weekend, with graduation ceremonies held at the First Technical University, Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State respectively.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, who was represented by the Director Economic Empowerment in the Ministry, Mr Braimah Akanya, congratulated the graduands for the skills acquired and urged them to be self sustaining. He assured them of other opportunities ahead to support their activities.
He urged the graduands to make good use of the opportunity to become good ambassadors of the region and the country at large; he admonished them to make good use of the startup package given to them by the Federal Government, to be self employed as weel as create employment for other youths within their localities.
Pastor Usani expressed his appreciation to the University management for supporting the Ministry by providing an enabling environment for such a programme.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ayobami Salami, also appreciated the Ministry for choosing the school for the training. He expressed the readiness of the institution to partner with the Ministry in subsequent trainings.
One of the training Consultants, Mr. Segun Sobajo advised the graduands on the need to start practicing the business ideas they have learnt in earnest to enable the federal government achieve its primary aim of the training and empowerment programme which he said was to curb the rate of poverty and unemployment in the Niger Delta region.
Similarly, the Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Prof. Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi, represented by the Managing Director, Polyventure, Dr. Lawal Kolawole told the participants to see the programme as a golden opportunity, calling on the beneficiaries to make use of their experience for the good of themselves, the Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general.
Ifeoma Ezeude
