Delta Partners UNDP to develop an Ultra-Modern Training Workshop
With about $5million, the Delta State Government in partnership with the United National Development Programme (UNDP) has developed an ultra- modern technical workshop at Egbokodo, Warri South Local Government Area of the State.
Already, technical equipment worth N150million naira comprises of seven containers of carpentry, underwater wielding equipments, units of computers as well as motor mechanic kits has been imported and some installed in the project site tagged Egbokodo Multi-Purpose Youth Center.
The construction of the project, which is running in two phase, when completed would enable artisans and youths in the area acquire skills in various fields including the oil and gas industry.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who inspected the level of work at the project site over the weekend expressed optimism that the first phase which has the training workshop would be completed by April this year.
He charged the contractor handling it to redouble its efforts at ensuring that the project takes off fully to foster the policy thrust of the state which encapsulate peace and security, human capital and infrastructural development.
Said him; “This is a skill acquisition center being developed specifically for job creation and conflict prevention. It is our initiate and partnership project between the Delta State government and the UNDP. We designed this to address cases of conflict, prone to the Niger Delta and because we are in the Niger Delta terrain we need to be proactive to ensure that our youths are not restive because one of the reasons youths goes into conflict is because they are jobless.”
“And to pervert these we decided to go into partnership with UNDP to set up this center where we can train our youths in various skills to make them self employed and be employable both in the oil industry”, he added.
On the cost of the project, he said: “It is about $4million but out of that money, Delta State government was supposed to provide about $3million while UNDP about $1.1million. We didn't just provide the cash, the money was used to provide the infrastructure, the equipments are being provided by UNDP and all that but the total package is being given in various form”
While reiterating the commitment of the his administration in the completion of the project, Uduaghan said that one of the programme outline for the training class is to change the mindset of the youths so that they can vigorously pursue the programme with enthusiasm that they could be gainfully employed even in the oil and gas industry.
He added that as part of government effort at getting the artisan in place, the state has also partnered the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in developing a center at Sapele in addition to other skill acquisition centers across the state to enhance it human capital development initiatives.
The governor therefore tasked youths in the area to take advantage of the center to develop themselves in various skill works so as to better their lives and that of their immediate families.
He said: “It is not right for youths to be going around in various communities without doing anything, so this center is designed to enable youths in the area acquire skills. I want to appeal to youths in this area to take opportunity of this center to acquire one skill or the other because we cannot be youths forever. We have sited this one here so that youths in this part of the state can have something to do and be able to take care of their families.”