By Onomiguren Agbamu
The 2022 trainees enrolled in the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) have lauded the Delta State Government’s for its job creation programme, describing it as the surest way out of poverty.
The beneficiaries made the commendations during the first series of Personal Effectiveness, and Leadership Development (PELD) workshop held at Asaba, the state capital.
The workshop tagged ” Leadership Class 101″ was attended by 525-STEP trainees enrolled in the 2022 cycle who are on diverse vocational skills training in various training centres across the state.
Giving a remark at the ceremony, Mr. Emitonye Tega who enrolled in Electrical Installation and Solar Works, expressed satisfaction with the experience gained at his training centre in the past one month.
He said , “training has been good, It has changed my life, and the skill and knowledge from PELD will equip me with life skills to make me self-employed, i studied accountancy, graduated in 2020, but could not get a job, but w ith STEP, I now see a bright future, goodbye to poverty.”
He maintained that STEP has been a sustainable way of earning a living, vowing to work hard to market his products to attract more clients to patronize his goods and services.
Also, Eucharia Urhobocha in Catering and Confectionery, said she was under-employed for two years after her university education until her enrollment in the 2022-STEP cycle.
In her statement “STEP is a great opportunity for me to harness my passion in baking, I have learned a lot, I hope to have a shop where I can render catering services to clients, train and employ other youths, I have registered my business, Ukraine’s Cakes and Snacks.”
Earlier, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh, in his opening speech, disclosed that PELD is an innovation to expose STEP beneficiaries to life skills in four lecture series such as Leadership Class 101, Leadership Class 201, Leadership Class 301 and Leadership Class 401.
He noted that the importance of the monthly leadership training would help the trainees to have the foundation of entrepreneurship and business success; learn how to lead themselves to lead others; support personal development, self-management, life skills, and help them to become complete STEP graduates.
He said discipline is key throughout the training period, saying that the Job Creation Bureau has zero tolerance to absenteeism, miscount and truancy, pointing out that 14-STEP trainees have been expelled from the programme and two trainers disengaged.
On his part, the Hon Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, while re-emphasizing the importance of discipline in the job creation programme said “Apply discipline is to help you realize your potentials and to become successful entrepreneurs and business owners”.
Also, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu reiterated that the state government’s entrepreneurship development and job creation programmes have reduced unemployment in the state far below what is obtainable in other states.
He charged all beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to acquire leadership skills and mindset to reposition themselves for a brighter future.
“Your destiny is in your hands, use choice, chance, change to harness your potentials to become STEP ambassadors.”
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