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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The first set of eighty beneficiaries of an information and communication technology (ICT) training programme, organized for youths of the Niger Delta region by the spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), umbrella body of Ijaw Youths worldwide, have graduated in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The best twelve of the graduands were handed brand new computer systems, while others will be handed their starter packs before the commencement of the second batch of the training programme in February, 2023.
Initiator of the programme and spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, while speaking during the graduation ceremony of the 80 graduands on Friday in Yenagoa, said despite the challenges, the training of youths from Ijaw communities in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has yielded the desired result.
He pointed out that the training included skills in Computer Appreciation, Office Production Tools and Internet Utility. Others are on Web Development (HTML, CSS & Bootstrap).
Ekerefe said the initiative was designed following the need to change the narrative of the struggle by the Ijaw nation, stressing that rather than “adopting repeated combatant approach, which has yielded less results, there is the need for consistent efforts to build capacity of youths and borrow a leaf from the consistent efforts of the present administration of Governor Douye Diri at using skill acquisition to draw away youths from crime and criminality to becoming positive force in the society.
“I observed that in this digital age, the Ijaw youths and the people of the region should not be left behind and allow oil multinationals continue in their lame excuse of not employing Niger Delta youths due to poor ICT knowledge.
“I want to call on the oil multinationals, Federal Government agencies and parastatals that the days of excuses and stereotype position against Ijaw youths are over. The Ijaw youths of now are more educated and empowered to be gainfully employed in any sector of the economy. Some have even become employers of labour while others are ready to compete in the labour market,” he said.
Earlier, the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douyi Diri, commended the initiator of the computer training programme, noting that the training and empowerment programmes by individuals, organisations and state government is yielding the desired result in the region by diverting agitated youths away from crime and criminality and focusing them on the path of development and peace.
Governor Diri, who was represented by the commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Patrick Erasmus, frowned at the attitude of some beneficiaries of government trainings who fail to put the knowledge acquired to use and even allegedly sell starter packs, charging beneficiaries of various training programmes across the country to put to use the skills acquired in order to better society.
Chairman of the occasion and president of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba, noted that the only way the Ijaws can take their rightful place in the oil and gas sector was through acquiring the needed education and training.
Also speaking, royal father of the day and the chairman of the state traditional rulers’ council, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, commended the initiator of the programme and urged the beneficiaries to use the knowledge they had acquired to become engaged and soar on higher grounds.
Two of the beneficiaries, Miss Inikio Treasure and Franklin Ayaowei thanked the organisers of the training and promised to maximize the knowledge acquired to better their lives. They called on corporate organization and individuals to support the skill acquisition training for youths in the region.
