Okowa urges political office holders to empower their constituents with skill acquisition

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated for elected political office holders to equip the youths of their constituencies with entrepreneurial skills that will make them to be self-reliant.

The Governor made the call on 26 may 2017 at the maiden economic summit of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency tagged, ‘Njiko AniomaOshimili Economic Summit’ held in Asaba.

Governor Okowa urged political office holders and philanthropists to go beyond purchase of “motorcycles” for people but, should train such persons to acquire relevant skills that will make them to be entrepreneurs.

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd right); State Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (2nd left); Chief (Prof.) Epiphany Azinge SAN (middle); Member, representing Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituen

He disclosed that technical education should be taken as basic education background for children, and pleaded that politicians should train the people to acquire skills and mentor them than just giving out motorcyles and other equipment’s as empowerment programmes; noting that if the people are well trained and work hard on their own, they can be job creators.

“We have had a lot of success stories with our skill acquisition programmes and beyond what the government is doing, individuals, corporate organizations should find a way of assisting the people to acquire skills; we have provided a window for people to come from the private sector and bring youths for us to train and they will empower such persons while we mentor them,” he said.

The Governor who lauded the organisation of economic summits for people to look at how to grow their economies at their ethnic nationality levels, urged Deltans, who are doing well in their chosen fields of life to come back home and be involved in the development of their communities.

He specifically, urged the people of Aniocha/Oshimili to look at ways to cultivate rice, as the area has a rice belt capable of feeding the state and beyond, disclosing that the Federal Government was on the verge of placing a ban on the importation of rice and Deltans should be actively involved in agriculture which is one of the greatest employers of labour.

The Governor assured the people of his administration’s commitment to the development of the state, adding that his administration was partnering with the private sector to provide low-cost housing for Deltans, road construction, ICT development, industrial parks, construction of the Asaba Stadium, among others.

Some of the resource persons who spoke at the occasion include Chief Henry Okolo, Dr Boniface Chizea, Mr Innocent Isichei, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, Dr Tony Iweaka, Prof. Sylvester Monye, Chief Clement Ofuani, among others talked about the economic potentials of the area and how they can be harnessed to the benefits of the people.

Earlier in a welcome address, the convener of the summit, Prof. Epiphany Azinge had stated that the summit was necessary for the people of the area to chart a course towards speedy economic growth