SAN FRANCISCO, August 06, (THEWILL) – Candidates from Delta South Senatorial District who were shortlisted for the State Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme as well as the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme were on Wednesday screened at various locations in the state in preparation for the official take-off of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s empowerment and job creation programme.
THEWILL learnt that screening exercise which attracted a number of unemployed youths who were shortlisted for the first batch of the training programme took place simultaneously at Warri South Council Secretarial, Bomadi Council Secretariat as well as Isoko South Council Secretarial respectively.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had on assumption of office promised to create jobs and employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and had unveiled five scheme acquisition and training programmes in this regard.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the exercise kicked-off at the Warri South Local Government Council, the Chief Job Creation Officer of the state, Prof. Eric Eboh, said that the aim of the programme is to build entrepreneurs that will be self-employed and be able to create employment for others.
Prof. Eboh, who disclosed that the exercise was going on simultaneously in Bomadi and Oleh for candidates within that part of the state, said that the purpose of the exercise was to screen the best candidates who will be committed and dedicated to the programme.
“This programme is an integral part of Governor Okowa’s SMART agenda of job and wealth creation. As you know very well, his Excellency has promised prosperity for all Deltans. And that prosperity is being delivered through the SMART agenda. That SMART agenda focuses on job creation because it is through job creation that wealth can be created, Eboh said. He added; “Today we are conducting interviews for the Youths Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme and the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme.”
He said the Governor had directed that they should ensure that those that will participate in the programme become ambassadors of the “Okowa’s SMART agenda”, and can do the state proud anywhere they find themselves.
Eboh disclosed that 150 applicants would be screened at each of the screening locations which included Bomadi and Oleh, adding that the state government was very prepared to continue with the programme as it has set aside budget that will be subject to revision all the time to accommodate changing trend in the state’s economy.
The state job creation officer disclosed that the selection process for the shortlisted candidates was very transparent as all the candidates selected for the interview did not go through any third party to be selected or brought in through slot offer.
He however dismissed rumours that some of those who applied for the programmes were already employees of the state government, stressing that the programme is specifically for unemployed youths who are between the ages of 18 and 35.
According to him, at the end of training, starter parks would be given to the trainees as the state government has already set up machinery in place to monitor and mentor all those that will participate in the programme and ensure that they succeed in their businesses.
Speaking in the same vein, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Community, Barr. Eric Omare, called on youths who would be successful in the interview process to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to better their lots.
He however commended Governor Okowa for his commitment to empower youths in the state, adding that the scheme is a right policy that would change the lives of many unemployed youths in the state.
