April 19, 2018

The Delta Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, says 3069 youths have benefited from the Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) of the State Government.

Eboh disclosed this during the distribution of starter packs to the 81 beneficiaries in the first batch of the “Brown’’ STEP training on Thursday in Asaba.

He said that the entrepreneurship training programme had qualified them to own starter packs and run their own businesses.

He said that there were 582 beneficiaries of STEP in all, who had acquired vocational skills on their personal volition, but were selected and supported through a refresher training programme.

The chief job creation officer said that the state government had transformed the lives of the youths by creating means of livelihood for them through the programmes.

Eboh said that the programmes had also achieved significant successes, noting that other states in the federation were now adopting the model to train and create employment for their youths.

He said that in recognition of the desirability and success of the programmes, the World Bank had been providing financial support for them through State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) project.

The chief job creation officer said: “currently, the scheme is running its third straight cycle, in line with the vision, determination and leadership of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.’’

In her remarks, the wife of the governor, Dame Edith Okowa, commended the beneficiaries and urged them to embrace handwork and commitment to their businesses.

She urged them to make good use of the skills they acquired and be grateful to God for being among the beneficiaries.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Merit Obarakpor, who was trained in fashion design and tailoring, commended the state government for the gesture.

Obarakpor gave the assurance that they would use the starter packs to promote and expand their businesses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those trained in fashion design and tailoring got one industrial sewing machine, one industrial weaving machine, a cutting table, a pressing iron and N58,000 cash each.

Those who were trained in interlocking business got one wheel barrow, a spade, a trowel, 300 pieces of moulds of various designs and other items.