Okowa Flags Off Training Programme For 1,645 Youths

Says MSME Best Way To Tackle Unemployment

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has flagged off training programme for 1,645 youths, saying his administration’s interest in Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) was because it is the best way to tackle youth unemployment.

He said that more than 90 per cent of businesses in Nigeria employ less than 100 persons, which has led to categorization as Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), asserting that is a sector that can get most of Nigerian youths off the street.

The governor flagged off the training programme yesterday at the Soghai-Delta, Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area.

He stated that “by definition, MSMEs are companies that employ less than 250 persons and available statistics indicate that 97 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria employ less than 100 persons and account for about 50per cent of Nigeria’s productive workforce and 46.54 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” adding that while multinational companies and big corporations get all the public attention and acclaim for their capacity to induce foreign investment capital, MSMEs remain the backbone for economic growth and social development in any society.”

“Today’s event is undeniable proof that our administration’s SMART agenda is well and truly on course; it goes without saying that job and wealth creation are the bedrock of the SMART agenda, with YAGEP and STEP, as the flagship programmes while other programmes under the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme are Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP), Development of Agro-Industries, and Extension of Microcredit

“All the programmes have been strategically designed, stringently planned and specifically tailored to tackle the problem of youth unemployment and produce lasting and sustainable prosperity across board,” he said

The governor, who congratulated the participants at the orientation course, disclosed that more than 70,000 persons applied for the empowerment programme.

“While previous programmes sought to prepare people for employment, the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme seeks to produce wealth creators and job creators; critical differences also exist in the selection and screening process, training approach, management system, and collaboration with the organised private sector,” he said

“This scheme is not your typical empowerment programme that is often cash- based; it is a wealth and job creation scheme, it is not about skills acquisition; it is about building a knowledge economy and the overarching goal is to equip participants with the technical know-how, vocational/technical skills, values and resources to become self-employed and employers of labour,” he added

Governor Okowa said, the scheme was being executed in phases, noting that the introduction of this scheme has enabled government to develop a database of the unemployed in the state.”B y the next six months when the next phase begins, we will simply pull out the next set of participants from the database, so, there is opportunity for as many as are qualified to be enlisted in subsequent phases of the scheme.”

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning,Dr. Kingsley Emu had in his address said that the participants were in high spirit , noting that” at the end of the day, we will surpass your expectations.”

In his remark,the Sole Administrator, Songhai-Delta ,Dr Theophilus Okpidi , commended Governor Okowa for the revamping process of the training centre ,adding, “I salute your courage and pray that God will make ways for you and direct your steps towards the actualization of the job and wealth creation scheme for the benefits of Deltans.”

The Chief Job Creation in the state, Prof. Eric Eboh had stated that 1,645 youths were being trained and thanked Governor Okowa for initiating such a programme that will make the youths entrepreneurs.