Okowa wants 2016 cycle of entrepreneurship trainees to show passion for job creation
Just as the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has constantly confessed that he is passionate about creating jobs for the people of the state, the governor wants the 2016 cycle of his administration’s job creation scheme to be passionate if they must succeed in creating jobs.
Okowa spoke at the Songhai-Delta Training Centre Amukpe in Sapele Local Government Area of the state while inaugurating the 2016 Cycle of Delta State Government’s Job Creation Scheme that marked the commencement of the orientation and training of the potential job creators for this year.
The scheme consists of Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP).
The governor said passion made him to choose a university professor to head the Job Creation Scheme instead of choosing a politician, saying passion made his administration to sustain the scheme, which commenced last year. He said because of his passion, the state government had to continue with the empowerment scheme despite the current state of the economy that has made funds hard to come by.
The governor is convinced that entrepreneurship is the only way out of the unemployment challenges facing the country.
Okowa, who observed that getting jobs in government organisations was becoming very difficult based on the high number of graduates chasing the few opportunities available, said the way out was for the jobless people was to acquire skills, empowered to be self sufficient and become employers of labour.
He reiterated, “We are training you to become job creators that we need in Delta State. You are here to improve on your lives and be in a position to be employers of labour.
“I believe that you are going to step into a greater future. I want to see you as better Deltans; Deltans who will say, I have been able to create jobs for my self and jobs for others,” he said, disclosing, “I have visited some farms and I have seen the enthusiasm from those who graduated from these programmes; if you want to succeed, you must be passionate about what you are doing.”
Okowa, who assured Deltans the programme would be continuous, further advised the participant, “you have to be committed to that which you have learnt because, I have a passion to turn many youths of Delta State into persons who will create jobs for others; you should rely on God and you will succeed in whatever you do and do not sell your starter packs.”
He also urged graduates of the programme to ensure that they give thanks to God stating, “you are going to reap more if you are dedicated to God.”
The chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor II, Obi of Owa who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers who attended the ceremony, expressed satisfaction with the success stories of the empowerment programmes, asserting, “this is a revolution that put food on the table, revolution that will extricate you from the shackles of poverty.”
The Chief Job Creation Officer in the state, Eric Eboh, in his speech, said participants in the programme were for Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) called STEPrenuers, Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) called YAGEPrenuers; and the Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP).
He stated, “As proof of growing stakeholders’ confidence in the job creation scheme, international development partners and non-governmental organizations have intensified technical support and collaboration for training, monitoring, service delivery feedback and mentoring.”
He urged the STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs to grab the opportunity provided by STEP, YAGEP and GEEP and begin to work out a brighter future for themselves – a future in entrepreneurship, productive employment and economic participation.