The Presidential Amnesty Programme is to train 500 ex-agitators in Niger-Delta on agro and aquaculture to enable them become self-employed. The Programme Coordinator, Mr Paul Boroh, made the promise during his visit to Bioresources Development Centre and National Biotechnology Development Agency, Odi, Kolokumo/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

Boroh said that 18 participants have graduated in agro and aqua culture in the centre. He urged the graduates to be of good behaviour and improve on their new skills to become self-employed for the betterment of the society. The Amnesty boss, also an Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta, said Agriculture could create job and wealth for the teaming youths.

“The training is a wakeup call because Amnesty office is not a place to collect money from; so, you must try to create reserve, by keeping something for tomorrow. “Plan to build yourself for tomorrow and study more for a better future,” he said. Boroh said the training programme would cover Niger-Delta States, such as Akwa-Ibom , Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers respectively.

He, further presented certificates to the 18 graduates, promising to make available funds from Micro Finance Banks as loan for them to set up their various businesses. Mr Josiah Habum, Director, Biotechnology Development Centre, Odi, said the vision was to ensure significant grassroots empowerment of people in the Niger-Delta region.

According to the director, the mission of the centre is to sustain development of local capacity for efficient and effective bioresources research. Habum added that others are to process and to achieve value addition on development of indigenous bioresources into products in order to diversify the nation’s economy. He, however, advised the graduates to put their skills into practice and empower themselves and others technically in the society.