The youths of the Niger Delta region have been advised to become employers of labour rather than seeking for white collar jobs.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of trainees on ICT, Entrepreneurship and E-Business sponsored by the Ministry at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State over the weekend. In the words of the Minister:
“The programme is one of the initiatives of the Ministry aimed at supporting the present administration’s programme of empowering the youths to be gainfully employed and be employers of labour instead of seeking for white collar jobs.
It is also intended to make the youths productive, reduce restiveness and insecurity in the Niger Delta region.”
Prof. Daramola disclosed that the training programme was put together to give the trainees theoretical and practical skills in computer appreciation and ability to access internet facilities, acquisition of skills for effective enterprise development, job and wealth creation.
The Minister disclosed that as part of the training programme, empowerment start-up capital of Five Hundred Thousand Naira would be given to each trainee to start up his or her micro enterprise. He advised the graduands to use such seed fund judiciously.
The Minister congratulated the trainees for the successful completion of the one month skill acquisition training programme and admonished them to make the best use of the knowledge and skills gained for the betterment of their lives, their communities, and the nation.
He added that officers of the Ministry would continue to monitor the progress of the trainees in their various businesses.
The Minister commended the staff and management of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, The Polytechnic Ibadan and Scotchville Group for the successful organization of the skill acquisition training programme. In his remarks at the graduation ceremony, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Ibadan Prof. Olatunde Fawole noted that the graduands had acquired the best of skills and knowledge from the training programme, adding that it was now left for them to utilize the skills and competencies acquired to uplift themselves and transform the country.
Prof. Fawole also noted that every big business of today started in one corridor as a small entity in the past.
He advised the graduands to think big, but start small.
“Do not procrastinate as postponement is the biggest enemy of business entrepreneurship.” He added.
