GMoU: 438 Itsekiri youths begin entrepreneurship after training

Four hundred and thirty eight youths of Itsekiri extraction, drawn from the over 20 Itsekiri communities of Chevron Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU under Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC are to begin full scale entrepreneurship after successfully undergoing intensive training.

The youths trained in Hair Dressing, Hotel and Catering Services, Information Communication Technology, Tailoring and Fashion Design, Tinsmith and Installation, Welding and Fabrication, Electrical as well as Inter-locking Stone and Kerb,  received sewing machines, gas cookers/ovens with cylinder bottles, hair dressing dryers and makeover boxes, inter-locking stones’ molds, shovels and towels, welding as well as grinding machines, power drills, electrical and instrumentation boxes as well as desktop computers and accessories.

Chairman of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, Amb. Austine Oniyesan in an address Thursday September 6 during the graduation ceremony and presentation of starter packs to the trainees, described the event as first of its kind in the history of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC.

Cross Section of the graduands

While emphasizing the need for the graduands to continually learn and improve themselves, Amb. Oniyesan noted that the current leadership of IRDC will focus its attention on massive job creation in Itsekiri Communities under the Chevron GMoU, through mega projects that will be sustainable.

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Mr. Esimaje Brikinnin in an address, expressed delight that Itsekiri RDC is back, vibrant, united and ready to add value to people’s lives in its member communities.

Mr. Brikinn who was represented by the Area Manager, PGPA Field Operation, Sam Daibo, opined that the success of the capacity building/ training programme “reinforces CNL’s belief that the process that is community-driven can stimulate quicker community development, than processes and systems designed without effective participation of community members”.

He reiterated that the skills’ acquisition programme which produced the 438 fresh Itsekiri entrepreneurs is in line with Target 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, which states that Nations should promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as full and productive employment and decent work for all.

R-L:Amb. Austine Oniyesan, Emma Adun (Treasurer, IRDC) & Barr. Richard Omare (Secretary, IRDC)

The PGPA Boss who stressed that the NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture has spent more than N20.6 billion on about 600 programmes through the GMoU since 2005, enjoined everyone to support Itsekiri RDC to enable it focus on its core duty which is community development.