Okowa challenges political office holders on empowering constituents with skill acquisition

*As Aniocha/Oshimili holds maiden economic summit

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has advocated for elected political office holders to equip the youths of their constituencies to acquire entrepreneurial skills that will make them self-reliant.

The Governor made the call Saturday May 27 at the maiden economic summit of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency tagged, ‘Njiko AniomaOshimili Economic Summit’ held in Asaba.

According to the Governor, political office holders and philanthropists should go beyond purchase of “motorcycles” for people but, should train such persons to acquire relevant skills that will make them to be entrepreneurs.

While disclosing that technical education should be taken as basic education background for children, Governor Okowa stated, “I am pleading that our politicians train the people to acquire skills and mentor them, rather than just giving out motorcyles and other equipments as empowerment programmes, if the people are well trained and they work hard on their own, they can be job creators. We have had a lot of success stories with our skill acquisition programmes and beyond what the government is doing, individuals, corporate organisations should find a way of assisting the people to acquire skills; we have provided a window for people to come from the private sector and bring youths for us to train and they will empower such persons while we mentor them,” he said.

The Governor, who lauded the organisation of economic summit, urged Deltans, who are doing well in their chosen fields of life, to come back home and be involved in the development of their communities.

He specifically urged the people of Aniocha/Oshimili to look at ways to cultivate rice, as the area has a rice belt capable of feeding the State and beyond, disclosing that the Federal Government was on the verge of placing a ban on the importation of rice and Deltans should be actively involved in agriculture which is one of the greatest employers of labour.

The Governor assured the people of his administration’s commitment to the development of the State, adding that his administration was partnering with the private sector to provide low-cost housing for Deltans, road construction, ICT development, industrial parks and construction of the Asaba Stadium, among others.

The resource persons who spoke at the occasion includes: Chief Henry Okolo, Dr. Boniface Chizea, Mr. Innocent Isichei, Chief Newton Jibunor, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, Dr. Tony Iweka, Prof. Sylvester Monye, Mr. Andy Isichei and Chief Clement Ofuani talked about the economic potentials of the area and how they can be harnessed to the benefits of the people.

Earlier in a welcome address, the convener of the summit, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, had stated that the summit was necessary for the people of the area to chart a course towards speedy economic growth.

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