By Kenneth Ehigiator
LAGOS—The Federal Government has entered into partnership with Century Energy Services Limited to train over 1,000 former militants in underwater welding, diving and also provide them with jobs. Meanwhile, 40 former militants were given their letters of employment, weekend, in Lagos.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, signed for the government, while Chairman of Century Group, Mr. Ken Etete, signed for his company.

With the agreement, the company is expected to train the former militants in batches of 100. The training will take place in Nigeria, Malaysia, Singapore and India, after which they would be provided jobs as under water welders and divers.

The training starts this month.

At the presentation of employment certificates to the first 40 former militants by Century Group, weekend, Kuku said the Amnesty Office was also interfacing with other government agencies and corporate bodies to have the former militants engaged as soon as they were through with their academic and skill acquisition training.

He said: “I am very grateful to God almighty. When I became Special Adviser, I never knew that this day would come. I just knew I had to start training them. It was one step after the other. But God has done it and the struggle is not in vain.

“Those gainfully employed will soon be over a thousand. This job placement has allayed fears of how to get jobs for the youths.

“We are also calling on other governmental and non-governmental groups such as the Small Medium Enterprises Association of Nigeria, SMEDAN, to help set up those that have completed their training in the amnesty programme.”