By Richard Elesho/Kogi
The Kogi State government has said a major component of its human capital development programme is to create 1,000 jobs for youths and women that will have multiple effects on their dependents every year.
This was disclosed on Saturday by the governor Ahmed Usman Ododo at the graduation ceremony of 250 youths trained in various skills acquisition by the government in partnership with the Korea International Collaboration Agency, KOICA.
Aside from their certificates, the youths were also presented with starter packs worth millions of Naira.
The Ododo Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition, OYESA program enrolled the beneficiaries at the Kogi based Nigeria Korea Friendship Institute, NKFI for training in several fields. The areas of focus included electrical engineering, automotive mechatronics, welding and fabrication, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion, networking and system security, software development, solar power installation, cinematography and photography, plumbing, and fittings.
During the graduation ceremony held at the Mohammed Buhari Civic Centre, Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce to drive the state’s economic growth. He emphasized that a state with a pool of highly skilled technical personnel is well-positioned for industrial advancement.
Ododo also highlighted a notable success of the program, which is the immediate employability of its graduates, pointing out that some trainees in welding and fabrication have already secured employment opportunities.
The governor emphasized that the initiative to fast-track graduates to support government projects not only reduces government expenditure but also empowers local talent, ensuring that Kogi has the necessary expertise to meet its industrial and infrastructural needs.
Furthermore, Governor Ododo pointed out that the impact of the initiative goes beyond the graduates themselves, estimating that over 5,000 individuals, including the trainees and their dependents, will experience economic empowerment.
He directed all commissioners, heads of parastatals, and agencies to ensure that the graduates are adequately engaged and encouraged to strive for economic empowerment.
The governor also called on the state revenue service to develop a friendly modality to protect the trainees as they begin their vocational operations in the state.
Rector of NKFI, Dr. Toyin William, in a goodwill message, congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged them to remain focused on putting the skills acquired in the institute to use.
