Governor Okowa says youth empowerment engine for stronger Delta

- In Delta state, youth empowerment is a major priority

- The state government has invested so much in empowering the youths and giving them a platform to thrive

- More young people in the state are been enrolled in various schemes to ensure they are beneficiaries

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Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says his administration’s determination to empower youths in the state with skills is targeted at building a stronger Delta. 

He stated this on Monday, December 21 at the official handing-out of starter-packs to 2019/2020 Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) beneficiaries in the state capital, Asaba. 

A statement from the Delta state government quoted Okowa as saying his administration remained committed to ensuring that more youths and women in the state were gainfully empowered in 2021. 

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He said his administration recognised the importance of empowering the youths as leaders of tomorrow and will continue to ensure that no stone is unturned in that direction. 

He added:

“In the last weeks, we have been able to put together our youths for empowerment programmes under the COVID-19 protocols. 

“We are reaching out to a lot of people and I am taking this opportunity to list these programmes so that Deltans will be aware of what we are doing. 

“We do realise the importance of our youths in the society, a lot of them have a sound mind but they don't have the opportunity and it looks like they are lazy, but I know that we don't have lazy youths in Delta.”

He appealed to all appointees and leaders to allow youths to go for programmes after their hearts so that they can be a success story. 

He challenged the job creation office to continue in engaging the beneficiaries with a view to helping them succeed in their various enterprises. 

Legit.ng gathered that the 2019/2020 programme cycle covered 814 youths comprising 569 under STEP, 245 under YAGEP and 25 persons with disabilities.

A total of 85 unemployed graduates also benefited from the job-readiness capacity-building activities under the Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP). 

Some Nigerians have been commenting on the initiative via social media.

Yinka Jones wrote:

“This is highly commendable as we see beneficiaries attaining skills and knowledge on the different businesses made available by STEP. I also encourage STEPreneurs to stay focused and committed as they develop in all areas of the program.”

Comrade Onome Gabriel wrote:

“Thanks to the Delta state government for this golden opportunity given to our youths to become independent. I hope they make use of this opportunity.”

Maazi Obi wrote:

“Congratulations to them on receiving their starter pack but they should not forget, the time to focus on being a success starts now.”

Laurent Darl wrote:

“This administration is committed to empowering the youths in the state to be financially independent.”

Daniel Egbe wrote:

“A big round of cheers to the last beneficiaries of the STEP scheme. Let's hope they turn their skills into something great.”

Recall that Governor Okowa recently stated that women empowerment needs to be tackled with concerted action to bridge the widening inequality gap in Nigeria and Africa.

According to him, both experts and policymakers agree that empowering women, especially the poor rural women, is fundamental to economic development in Nigeria.

In a related development, the Delta government has approved the release of funds for the payment of the 2019/2020 Students’ Special Assistance Scheme, otherwise known as bursary, for students of the state origin in tertiary institutions across the country.

Commissioner for information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this in a statement seen by Legit.ng on Tuesday, December 15.

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Source: Legit.ng