GOVERNOR OKOWA’S SMART AGENDA-EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WINNERS AND HELPING THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE REACH THEIR POTENTIAL
On assumption of office, H.E. Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa did not leave his teeming supporters in doubt about his vision for the State.
He was emphatic on his mission to provide prosperity for all Deltans through certain outlined initiatives that were rolled out immediately the stage was set.
He came up with the vision- SMART which is an acronym for;
S- Strategic wealth creation, projects and provision of jobs for all Deltans
M- Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political and social harmony
Agricultural reforms and accelerated industrialization
R- Relevant Health and Education policies
T- Transformed environment through urban renewal
Obviously, his administration is with a clear vision to create wealth and reduce unemployment through technical, vocational and formal education, make food abundant, provide functional health institutions and enhance peace building for economic growth.
To buttress his preparedness for the job, immediately after inauguration, the Governor sent two bills to the State House of Assembly, among which was ‘A bill to establish Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board’.
He went further to establish a Job Creation Office with a target at the youths. Arguably, this is a pacesetter initiative among the States in Nigeria.
He hit the ground running with the revamping of previously abandoned Technical Schools in all senatorial districts of the state and appointed some young professionals to pilot the affairs of the Board.
The initiative was with a view to raising skilled manpower in all sectors of the economy that would compete with their contemporaries all over the world.
It is indeed a case in point because the project is targeted at filling up the professional gap in most middle level skills that has become a challenge in our nation.
A situation where skilled men are brought in from neighboring West Africa nations to take care of menial jobs like Tilings, roofing, carpentry and the likes have become an aberration that would only be tackled by such proactive steps.
Infact, the next level in implementing the initiative has seen such sensitization programmes to all and sundry with the tag “Even a Professor Needs a Skill”. Gov. Okowa’s vision is to ensure that not minding the professional training or occupational interest of anyone, there is the need to have expertise in another field.
Assuredly, in the nearest future, with the programme being implemented, Delta State would become a mustering point for essential skills in diverse sectors throughout the entire nation. Also, more jobs would be created and various skilled entrepreneurs would be raised in diverse sectors.
The job creation office was created as a special purpose vehicle for the actualization of job and wealth creation under the SMART Agenda. The programme’s 4-pronged approach to raising entrepreneurs include; YAGEP, STEP, PPSP and Agro Industries. In all of these, trainees are expected to receive training in Agriculture, Agribusiness, various skills& trade and receive starter packs after completing the training.
Testimonies abound about the success of this programme and the recent exhibition by beneficiaries in December last year, is a demonstration of the fact that a great number of youths have been empowered to fulfill their potentials. This is also a generational empowerment that would transcend the administration of the incumbent Governor of the State.
In all sincerity, H.E. Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is on a mission of prosperity for all Deltans, with the passion for implementing his vision to the latter. This is a call to all and sundry to key into the Governor’s initiatives to ensure a better Delta State for us and future generation.
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