Uche Ogah partners FG to train 850 Abians on vocational skills
By Steve Oko
Minister of State for Steel and Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, is partnering with the Nigeria Directorate Employment, NDE, to train 850 Abians on vacational skills.
50 participants were drawn from each of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state for the three month training scheduled for September 21 to December 21 in 49 training centres across the state.
A cross-section of the beneficiaries
Flagging off the exercise at Gado Hotels Wednesday in Umuahia, the Minister said the scheme was aimed at making more Abians self reliant as well as employers of labour.
He charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training to better their lots as well as their dependants by acquiring the needed skills that would make them employers of labour.
The 2019 Abia Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, who was represented by the former Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Chief Uzo Egbo, decried the level of unemployment and dependence in the state particularly as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
He urged the participants to ensure they invested any seed money they might receive at the end of the training in establishing their trade for self reliance.
In his address the Abia State Coordinator of NDE, Lady C. I Uzoatuegwu, said the training was part of the agency’s 2020 Batch B of BNOAS scheme designed to impart marketable vocational skills to the unemployed persons, thereby making them self reliant, and employers of labour.
She said the scheme was approved by NDE management in order to meet up with the increasing challenges of unemployment in the country, and to also assist in cushioning the effects of the coronavirus pandemic which had ruined economies of individuals and nations.
The NDE boss who was represented by Pastor Boyle Okwandu, enumerated some of the areas of the vocational skills to include : fashion design, computer application, catering , and GSM repairs.
She further explained that participants in the training would receive N2000 monthly stipend while their trainers would be entitled to N2000 monthly per a trainee.
The Coordinator urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, warning against truancy.
Later in an interview, one of the facilitators and an aide to the Minister, Mr. Goddy Okorie said the gesture was part of the efforts of Ogah to take more Abia youths out of the labour market.
He recalled that the gesture was coming barely three months after the Minister had assisted over 800 Abia youths to access the federal government NISAL loan.
He urged Abia youths to take advantage of such windows of opportunity to acquire a skil for self establishment instead of complaining unnecessarily or resorting to crime.
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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