Bayelsa Lauds World Bank Over Seefor Projects, As Partnership Generates Over 1, 000 Jobs

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson has lauded the World Bank over the level of seriousness, it has continued to show in the implementation of its State Employment and Expenditure for Result  (SEEFOR) Project, in the state.

Granting audience to a delegation of World Bank officials in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson noted that, the partnership between the state, the Bank and the European Union is yielding positive results, especially in the areas of human capacity building and employment generation.

The Governor said, he was impressed with the progress reports at his disposal, noting that out of the 54 million dollars earmarked for projects in the benefitting states, only 5 million dollars have so far been expended, adding that, a lot more will be achieved in the months ahead.

He particularly, thanked the World Bank/European Union partners for joining hands with the state government in tackling the issue of unemployment.

While expressing the state government's commitment towards actualizing the objectives of SEEFOR, he, however, urged the partners to explore the agricultural sector of the state to open up more economically viable opportunities for the people.

According to the Governor, “We believe that working with you (World Bank/European), we will be able to mop up a good number of these unemployed people, a number of whom are actually not just unemployed, but also unemployable.  We've got to work gradually to see how we can get them employable and then give them a chance at living productive lives.

“I like to use this opportunity to assure you of our preparedness as a government to do whatever is needful to keep this wonderful and laudable initiative of SEEFOR going.

We need to explore the Agricultural opportunities so that a number of these young people can be given training in agricultural enterprises as we are doing in this state.

“As a matter of fact, we have a robust youth engagement, development and training programme.  We've sent a lot of them out for skills acquisition in various middle level agricultural ventures.  And, then we have the challenge of working with you to see how we can support them, so that they can start independent agricultural enterprises.

Responding to some of the concerns raised by the team, Governor Dickson assured that, the government would expedite action in filling the vacancy existing in the Due-Process office and commence the process of enacting an audit law in the state to firm up its stand on transparency and accountability.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the SEEFOR Project Mission Team, Mr. Jens Kromann Kristensen disclosed that, over 1,000 Bayelsans have been trained and employed in various areas.

According to him, about 800 more Bayelsans will be recruited, adding that the team was in the state to follow up the implementation of the SEEFOR Project.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State

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