February 11, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Government has indicated its readiness to partner Gregory University, Uturu in Abia State on vocational training programme to create a critical mass of middle-class and higher manpower to drive the local economy.
Governor Douye Diri gave the indication on Thursday while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the Certification Ceremony of the Smart House A to Z Vocational Training Programme at the AfricanTide Academy, Kpansia in Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor said his administration is making deliberate efforts at giving hands-on skills training to the youths because its belief in the indispensability of the human capital.
He charged the graduands who trained in Quartia, Sting, Plumbing, among other vocations, not to rest on their oars but be passionate about acquiring more knowledge in their various fields to further improve themselves.
While promising them starter-packs, Governor Diri cautioned them to resist the temptation of selling off their work tools, but rather use them judiciously to generate income for themselves and become employers of labour.
The Bayelsa helmsman, who commended the German Partners, the ATTEC Academy and Gregory University for their contributions towards producing the first set of graduands of the programme, promised to take the partnership a notch higher.
He said: “To Gregory University, you have the blessing of the Governor of our state. So you have to liaise with our partners, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education to see how we can encourage those of them who are willing to go further to move on.
“And to all the graduates, who are receiving certification today, you should know that the skill you have acquired is your seed. If you eat your seed by not putting your skills into work, you will certainly go back to where you were before.
“And if you manage to work for somebody, you remain a labourer. But when you work for yourself, you become a business owner or an entrepreneur. And so, I encourage you to use your seed well by planting it. Don’t sell or eat your seed.”
Delivering the convocation charge, the Vice Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Prof. Augustine Uwakwe, urged the graduands to effectively demonstrate the expertise they have acquired, and be good ambassadors of Bayelsa and all the institutions that played a role in their training.
He thanked the state government for keeping faith with the programme and promised that Gregory University would create an enabling opportunity for beneficiaries to study further to obtain a degree in their chosen fields through the University’s Diploma Conversion Programme.
About the Author
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
