The training tagged “2022 Aguakpa Ghe Igbama,” is organised by Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC).

Youths and women are trained in vocational skills, including welding and fabrication, plumbing, agriculture, catering and decoration, shoe and poultry, piggery and panel beating, among others.

In his keynote address, Edo State Governor, represented by the Chairman of EDSOGPADEC, Pastor Kennedy Osifo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of women and youths in the state, explaining that the training is in furtherance of the governor’s vision to better the lives of the people of the oil and gas producing areas in the state.

He added that the commission, since its inception 15 years ago, had focused majorly on infrastructural development, including construction of roads, health centres, schools, courts, markets and town halls, which he said, had not completely addressed the dissatisfaction of youths in these communities.

He said: “This present administration of the commission had the mandate from Mr. Governor to also intervene in core areas of infrastructural and human capital development in the three oil and gas producing councils of the state.”

He said it had become imperative to engage more youths in self-development so that they would be frontline beneficiaries of opportunities that the Gelegele Seaport and the Industrial Park initiatives of the state government would throw up in the short, medium and long term.

The commission’s chair explained that EDSOGPADEC was focusing on empowering youths and women with a view to assisting them to develop their community-based business enterprises that would improve their living conditions and reduce the level of restiveness in these communities.

“The training will last five months which is split into three months of hands-on training and two months of apprenticeship. Successful trainees will attend a seminar on how to start and manage a micro, small and medium enterprise, successfully and in the end, they will be empowered with the necessary tools and equipment, inclusive of indirect financial aid and linkage to farm hubs,” he said.

Managing Director of Edo State Skills Development Agency, EdoJobs, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, urged the trainees to take the programme seriously, assuring them of government’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of the people.