By Anastasia Agunwa
No fewer than 65 women and youths from the oil-rich Niger Delta region have been trained, and subsequently empowered with N500,000 each as starter packs.
The five-day training which was on Fashion Designing, ICT and Entrepreneurship, was sponsored by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja during the graduation ceremony of the trainees, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, informed that the initiative is one of the many considerations of the Federal Government to diversify the economy and generate employment.
The training is expected to adequately prepare you for the task ahead. The Ministry is aware that training without support at the terminal point is an effort in futility. Hence as part of the programme, an empowerment package has been put together by way of start-up capital,” the perm sec noted.
While charging the trainees to use the funds judiciously, he assured that other youths not captured in the latest batch, would be considered in subsequent batches.
“It is pertinent to note that this empowerment is a continuous exercise, and it gets better and more improved with time,” the perm sec who was represented by Alfred Abah, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry added.
Philip Ndiomu, Director, Economic Empowerment Department, said the Niger Delta ministry is looking at providing training for another 1000 beneficiaries drawn from the Niger Delta region before the end of the year.
“We’ll go to our database and draw from there,” he assured.
Blessing Joel, one of the beneficiaries from Bayelsa State said, “I came to Abuja two years ago you know. I’ve been without a job, but now I have a new job. Niger Delta has smiled to me by giving me this great opportunity to beia big business man”.
Another elated beneficiary, Keren Benjamin said, “this is a very mind blowing programme and a big opportunity given to youths and women”.
