The Akwa Ibom State Government has set a new benchmark on youth empowerment in the country through the training of over 4,000 youths across the 31 local government areas of the state on various skills and trades.
The skills training programme for youths, which is a key economic component of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration, is expected to provide skilled manpower for the state’s emerging industrial sector as well as make youths in the state to be self-reliant.
Against the backdrop of its achievements in providing skills training for thousands of youths, the Akwa Ibom State Government recently hosted the 2nd edition of World Youth Skills Day with the theme “Skills Development to Improve Youth Empowerment”.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Youth Skills Day, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Skills Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Marjorie Abasiodiong, said the decision to choose Akwa Ibom as host of the youth skills summit was predicated on achievements recorded by the state in the empowerment of youths.
She disclosed that through her office, government has engaged and sponsored over 4,000 youths across the 31 local government areas of the state in for training in various vocations and specialized professions such as pharmaceuticals, interior/exterior decoration, auto-electricity, film production and camera works.
Abasiodiong also mentioned welding, fashion designing, ICT, soap making, recharge card printing, catering, hairdressing , shoe-making, events management as some of the areas which youths in the state are currently undergoing training.
According to her, the recruitment exercise was an ongoing activity aimed at making youths of the state to be self-reliant to enable them contribute meaningfully to the economic and industrial renaissance of the Udom administration.
The SSA to the Governor further said government intends to ensure that youths are properly and gainfully engaged to that they would stay off crime and other anti-social behaviours.