Fifteen students sponsored by the Delta State Government for a training in Footwear Design and Technology yesterday graduated from the prestigious Moda Pelle Academy, Milano, Italy after two weeks of intensive training.

The state also yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the building and equipping of a leatherworks factory in Delta State. Under the terms of the agreement, UNIDO will apart from part funding the factory also help the state develop skills in shoe design to a level that will enable them compete with the best in the world.

On hand for the graduation ceremony yesterday were the Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN; Chike C. Ogeah Esq, Commissioner for Information and Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation.

The training and setting up of a leather works factory is part of Project Cooperation Agreements between the Delta State Government and UNIDO under which agro processing capacities will be developed in the state.

The project aims at improving the quality of life of rural population of Delta State by setting up efficient farmer-owned small scale agro processing units for palm oil milling and fish drying linking them effectively with primary producers and domestic buyers.

The agreement also seeks to build creative industries for women in rural Delta, especially the traditional Akwaocha fabric to provide technical support for the development of the local fabric.

Speaking on the development, Ogeah said it is the next level in the consolidation of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s action plan of building enduring institutional frameworks for the development of requisite skills to boost human capacity, create jobs and boost production and export of quality non-oil products. “That is the essence of the Delta Beyond Oil” vision of the governor of Delta State,” Ogeah stated.

The Delta State delegation later had a guided tour of the Giorgio Armani footwear factory by Moda Pelle Academy, with exploratory talks held on infusing the Armani fashion line with indigenous fabrics such as Akwaocha.