The Bayelsa State Government says it is considering the prospects of making vocational training compulsory at all levels of discipline in the state own universities. The Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd) gave the assurance during the closing ceremony of the 2018 National Industrial Skills Development Programme of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) at Chief Harold Dappa Biriye Conference Centre Onopa,Government House Yenagoa. He said the move is imperative in order to give alternative lifeline to graduates to be empowered in skills in cases where gainful employment has failed or is saturated.
Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd) congratulated the trainees for learning the skills noting that the windows are open for them to become self-reliant.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund Joseph Ari who was represented by the Director, Corporate Planning Department, Mrs Adaeze Nwankwo said the essence of the programme was to implement and facilitate the Federal Government’s policy on job and wealth creation to stem rampant unemployment and breed a new generation of entrepreneurs in order to transform the economic landscape of the country.
According to the DG, the NISDP since its inception has equipped over 150,000 Nigerians nationwide and 2400 from Bayelsa State alone.
In his speech, the Area manager of ITF, Mr Okwori Abel Oche said the current batch of 300 trainees who received start-up packs was the 7th phase of the NISDP in Bayelsa State through appropriate planning and after a wide consultation with stakeholders in Catering and Event Management, Aluminum fabrication and Installation and tiling and POP.
However, the ITF Area Manager thanked the Bayelsa State government for approving the participation and the necessary support.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Collins B. Cocodia charged the trainees to make judicious use of the privilege noting that those receiving start-up packs are required to sign guarantors on their behalf.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the inspection of exhibition by the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity also did a special Presentation to one nursing mother and two other expectant mothers.
