DESOPADEC lifts 195 youths with multimillion naira skills, tools, cash

The Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has identified skills training and entrepreneurship development as one of the best means to tackle the rising unemployment and poverty rate in the country.  

The governor made the remark on Tuesday in Effurun, Delta State, during the graduation/prize-giving ceremony of 195 trainees of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission’s Skills Academy.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Assistant (SA) on DESOPADEC, Rt. Hon Basil Ganagana, said the training aims to turn youths into “wealth and job creators”.

He said, “It is no secret that many Nigerians are falling into the poverty bracket daily, and the percentage of the unemployed and underemployed is worrisome. Skills training and entrepreneurship development is one of the surest ways of ridding our society of the scourge of youth unemployment and the attendant youth restiveness.

“This is exactly what DESOPADEC is doing with its Skills Academy, which equips our youths with the technical know-how, vocational skills, values, and resources to become wealth and job creators.

The era of giving out hand-outs as youth or women empowerment is over. We must equip our people with the soft skills – knowledge, mindset change, personal development, and business/leadership skills – that will help them succeed in life.

Chairman of the DESOPADEC Board, Hon. (Chief) John Nani, cautioned the beneficiaries against selling off their starter packs, pointing out that it would defeat the purpose of their training.

He told the beneficiaries that how they turned out would encourage the state government to sustain the programme, which he noted was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

On his part, the Executive Director, Directorate of Social Services, Chief Favour Izuokumor, said the six-month programme was conceived to take youths off the streets by empowering them with needed skills.

“These skills should be seen as opportunities to develop your communities. Embrace your uniqueness and let it guard you on the path ahead. I implore you to embrace obstacles as opportunities for growth. Never stop learning, as the world is constantly evolving,” the EDSS advised.

The training encompasses seven skills: Catering and Confectionary (76); Electrical Installation and Repairs (1); Hardware and Software Development (9); POP Tiling and Interlocking (4); Fashion and Design (56); Hair Dressing and Makeover (28); as well as Welding and Fabrication (21).

On his part, the Executive Director, Directorate of Social Services, Chief Favour Izuokumor, said the six-month programme was conceived to take youths off the streets by empowering them with needed skills.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards and a N500,000 cash prize to the overall best graduate, Ruth Samuel, who scored 97% score in Catering and Confectionary.

The best students in each of the vocations, and the presentation of N200,000 take-off grant to each graduate, along with a multimillion-naira starter-pack to enable them to kickstart their vocations.