Niger Delta: FG creates 200 jobs for ex-agitators

Niger Delta: FG creates 200 jobs for ex-agitators

ON October 11, 2017 4:56 AM / IN News / BY Ugoh Solomon Chinonso
ABUJA—As part of the entrepreneurial drive geared toward creating an enabling environment for the development of the 30,000 ex-agitators’ potentials in different vocational skill, the Federal Government through its Amnesty Programme has created indirect jobs for over 200 Niger Delta ex-agitators in Nigeria.
Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme disclosed this in Nnewi, Anambra State at the batch B graduation ceremony of the 200 Niger Delta ex-agitators.
After the nine months intensive automobile course in automobile manufacturing, engineering and maintenance, Boroh commended the granduands for making President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government proud in their performance during the training.
According to him, in line with the ongoing reintegration process of 30,000 ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region, “the focus of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is to create the enabling environment for youths in the region, particularly the ex-agitators to have sustainable sources of livelihood as they are reintegrated into their communities.”
Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator, Prince Momoh Aminu, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for believing in the sustainability of peace in the Niger Delta, “permit me to appreciate our ever focused and visionary president, President Muhammadu Buhari for believing in the sustainability of peace in the country, most especially the Niger Delta”.
“Mr President has demonstrated on many occasions his interest in the transformation of the Niger Delta which is seen in the unprecedented budgetary allocation to the amnesty office.”
Also commending Boroh on his relentless passion to empower the ex-agitators, he said, “the appointment of a man of peace and advocate for sustainable growth in the person of Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) to anchor this very sensitive and critical national assignment, has shown his absolute passion for peace, empowerment for the youths and all inclusive development in the Niger Delta.”
“This passion has translated into quantum in oil production in Niger Delta, also he has brought about a substantial renovation in the amnesty program with more judicious application of funds.” He said.
Explaining the rationale behind the training he said, “the idea had been for everyone that participates in the training to have mastery of a particular area and then everybody now works compositely toward the end product.”
“So far, the trainees have been exceptional because within a short period they have been able to display capacity in assimilating the theory and practical aspects of the training and this is really good for Nigeria. He said.
“At the end of the day, we will be talking about people, who are armed with critical technical skills which the country needs, not just for the development of the Niger Delta area, but for Nigeria in general,” he stressed.
The Chief Executive Officer of the academy, Mr Endi Ezengwa, commending the performance of the trainees said,” out of the 199 candidates that sat for the National Technical Certificate (NTC) from the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, 195 bagged distinctions while four others made credits.”
He noted that Innoson Car Manufacturing Company was willing to absorb the grandaunts with a salary of N60, 000 which would be reviewed upwards at the end of a probationary period of one year.
However, Ezengwa urged the state governments in the Niger Delta region to create an enabling environment for the graduands to put into practice the skills they have acquired from the academy.
He commended Boroh for his vision and sincerity in driving the youth empowerment scheme through various vocational trainings, describing him as a “focused man, who has his people at heart”.
Ezengwa said the course covered automobile manufacturing, auto maintenance, auto mechanical, auto electrical, auto painting, welding, among other aspects of the automobile engineering production chain.
Speaking on behalf of the ex- agitators, President of the trainees, Mr Raphael Ajalaja, expressed satisfaction with the leadership of Boroh, especially the manner he handled the programme.
Ajalaja also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for giving them such opportunity to be trained at the centre.
Another graduate, Miss Gloria Edward, said the automobile training had developed their capacity to several business opportunities.
Edward urged the Amnesty Coordinator to empower them at the end of the programme to enable them establish their automobile businesses.
As a proof of good performance, the graduants presented three vehicles; a bus, 4×4 wheel truck and a 32-seater bus assembled from the scratch to the finish by the ex-agitators.