Amaechi’s quest for votes and talents

BY VICTORIA OJEME

OVER the years, Nigeria has been grappling with the challenge of brain drain, which cuts across every sector of the economy. The attendant consequences are obvious due to some avoidable causes such as inconsistent economic policies, poor educational policies, long military dictatorship, greed, incessant ethno-religious crises and frightening corruption.

One of the state governments in the country that has taken giant steps to tackle the problem headlong; is the Rivers State government, led by Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

One of the strategies adopted lately by the Rivers state government to stem the tide of its citizens leaving the state to go abroad or others states to ply their profession,  to partner with the African Women and Youth Organisation (AWYO), a non-governmental organisation.

Under this programme, AWYO in collaboration  with the Rivers State government plans to train and retain students from the state through a special scholarship scheme, as part of measures to fill the gap created by the exodus of needed manpower to seek greener pastures else where.

This is to boost capacity building in Rives State and for rapid socio-economic development.

Recently, the State Ministry of Education under the stewardship of the Commissioner, Ms Alice Demi selected student beneficiaries for the first phase of the scholarship programme based on a merit programme.

The proactive step of the collaboration in human capacity development is the sponsoring of some indigenes of the state to study in Germany on scholarship under the FEEDER project after which they would be provided jobs in the state as a way of alleviating brain drain in all sectors of the state.

According to the Country Director of AWYO, Miss EwaJesu Asala, “River State governor is partnering with us through his passion and strong will for advancing the Rivers state educational system and leaving a long lasting legacy for the youths. And in achieving this dream he will stop at nothing to give the students the best service in becoming role models for the youth and a pride for the state and Nigeria as a whole.”

EwaJesu said, the students are under a signed agreement with their parents and guardians that bind them to return to their host communities. This he said is another measure put in place to  stop the abuse of such opportunity by the beneficiaries who may want to stay back in the country of study for fear of joblessness in Nigeria.

The Rivers State Scholarship winners are all studying in Germany under the supervision of AWYO which is responsible for their social and educational integration in the German society.

The students are currently in Berlin undergoing an intensive German Language course after which they will proceed to Technical University (Studienkolleg) Berlin for a year A-levels/ pre-university study before starting their various courses in September 2012 in different Universities all over Germany. The main area of studies are Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Power and renewable energy. e.t.c) and medical science.

AWYO with its African office in Nigeria designed the FEEDER project as a social and educational development project to raise new skilled workers and stop the brain drain in Nigeria educational system, the project is modelled towards accessing one of the best European educational system and it also provides the students with the opportunities for cultural, social and intellectual networking with over 100,000 foreign students that comes into Germany every year for technological advancement of their various countries of origin.

The state government is said to have already set up mechanisms to accommodate the beneficiaries through its various ministries. This is to boost the level of performance of human development in Rivers State.

With the alliance that AWYO has formed with its various partners based on years of experience on youth education and development, the opportunity for these young people to learn from the best minds in Europe in formal education and hands on internship will be used to integrate them into building their societies.