Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has urged youths in the state to embrace skill acquisition programmes to become self-reliant rather than depend on political handouts.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 814 students of the Diri Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Programme, in Yenagoa, the state capital, the governor said the programme is in line with the prosperity agenda of his administration.
Reiterating the desire of his administration to support similar empowerment programmes to improve the economic fortunes of youths and the state at large, Diri explained that true progress comes from hard work.
The governor while expressing delight over the disposition of the graduates, who, he said, showed determination to put their skills to use, urged youths to shun criminality and take advantage of government’s programmes to better their lives.
He maintained that with the series of empowerment programmes going on in the state, citizens would soon start producing most of the needs of the people.
Diri, who commended the initiator of the scheme, Mrs Charity Godwin. said her initiative is in line with his vision for the state.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Federal Otokito, said the event was remarkable and in line with the governor’s charge to raise entrepreneurs and end political praise-singing.
Presenting the programme overview, the Director, Centre for Women Development, Southern I jaw Constituency 4, Mrs. Charity Godwin, explained that the training, which lasted about a year, had trained students in various skills including fashion design, catering, shoemaking, soap making, among others.
In their remarks, the representatives of the beneficiaries thanked the governor and Mrs. Godwin for the training, assuring that the skills acquired would be put to profitable use.
At the event, the Governor also flagged off the training and empowerment of 317 people under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) scheme.
