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By Festus Ahon , ASABA

AS part of an effort to meaningfully engage youths in its mandate area, the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Skill Academy has matriculated 160 trainees for the second batch of its youth empowerment programme. 

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony which took place at the PTI Conference Hall, Effurun, the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa commended the commission for putting such a programme in place and advised the participants to be punctual and dedicated to their training. 

Okowa who was represented at the ceremony by the Pere of Akugbene Kingdom, HRM, Perekalanema VIII, urged the matriculants not to waste the opportunity given to them but rather make good use of it to better their lives and the society. 

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori in his remarks, to the participants to take advantage of the training to develop themselves.

Oborevwori who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu said; “if you were to go through examination or screening, many of you will not make it. To see yourself as an opportunity and make the best of this opportunity, this is because many persons wish they can be where you are today.”

The Chairman of the commission, Chief Michael Didan said the commission was aligning itself with the word of God Almighty, saying;”what we are doing today is to make you reliable, effective and selfless in the society. 

Fielding questions from Newsmen shortly after the ceremony, the Managing Director of the Commission, Bashorun Askia Ogieh said the matriculants were being trained to become entrepreneurs in their own rights, adding that apart from the training, the commission would provide them with starter packs, financial and human support to enable them to stand on their own.

Ogieh disclosed that the programme would be held twice each year with each session lasting for a six months training period, pointing that it would continue to run till the expiration of the tenure of the current board and even beyond. 

Ogieh said; “this is the second batch and I know that at the end of this exercise, another batch will come on stream. If we are able to do that, it will now become something that is permanent in the commission, that even when we have left they will have no option than to follow because it would have become like a policy in DESOPADEC.”

The DESOPADEC boss said the programme was aimed at aligning the Commission with the youth empowerment programme of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. I, therefore, advise the beneficiaries to be serious and committed to their training.