The Rivers State Ministry of Youths Development has economically empowered no fewer than seventy five (75) youths from the state by training them on various vocational skills.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the weekend, the state Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Youths, Sir. Owene Wonodi commended Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his immense contribution towards the success of the programme.
The Commissioner further lauded the Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre, Sky Ventures and Zuzak Technical Services Ltd for embarking on the training of youths to acquire sustainable technical skills for the purpose of self-reliance.
Sir. Wonodi had earlier thanked the staff and the ministry, especially the Department of Youth Enterprise, Development and Promotion for their untiring efforts to coordinate the activities of the programme to a logical conclusion.
The Commissioner who described youths unemployment as a major challenge to socio-economic development in the country, expressed optimism that through skills acquisition programmes/entrepreneurship capacity building that the problem would be ameliorated to a noticeable standard.
According to him, “The ministry is graduating 35 youths in tailoring/fashion design, 20 youths in GSM repairs, 20 youths in Balik (Tie and Dye), totaling 75 youths trained, adding that starter packs and certificates will be presented to enable the beneficiaries start up their businesses and that will in no small measure help to build up strongly their entrepreneurial capacity for sustainable development”.
Sir. Wonodi also revealed that the ministry in collaboration with the Lovers of Christ Ministry International trained eighty two (8) youths free of charge, “50 of which are Rivers youths” in various skills including: business entrepreneurship cinematography, e-commerce, 3D Ammination, fish farming, cake baking/confectionary, interior decoration, soap, Izal and air freshener.
The Commissioner had earlier advised the beneficiaries to make proper use of the starter packs for revenue generation, stressing that “many are looking for this opportunity especially the indigent youths but it is difficult to get”.
His words, “Note that there will be post evaluation exercise where the staff of the ministry will go to your business locations for proper appraisal of your commitment over the business enterprise”.
However, he charged them to eschew any act capable of destroying them and also bring disaffection in the areas of their operations.
In their separate speeches, Ugwuzuo Festus, Director Youth Enterprise, Development and Promotion, Chief Dic-Isotu Moses, Director Youths Education and Counselling congratulated the youths on successful completion of the programme. They urged them to be focused, and also make use of the starter packs judiciously.
The theme of the programme was “Making the youth self reliant/employers of labour through skills acquisition”.
Some of the beneficiaries namely: Frank Gogo Harry and others thanked the Ministry of Youths Development and the state Government for the empowerment and promised to use the starter packs judiciously.
The highlights of the occasion were distribution of starter packs and the issuance of certificates to the beneficiaries. ###
