Prof. Francis Otunta, Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has commended the Federal Government for sustaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme for ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region, saying that the peace building initiative has paid off with the return of peace and stability in the area.

Prof. Francis Otunta, represented by Mr. Uche Arua, Chief librarian, made the commendation recently at the graduation of 24 Presidential Amnesty delegates who undertook a month intensive course on agro-business at the university.

The Vice Chancellor who charged the graduating students to apply the knowledge they have gained from the short customised training programme to impact positively on their lives and society at large, informing that the essence of the short course on agro-business was to build their capacities through skill acquisition on poultry management and entrepreneurship.

While admonishing the delegates to be worthy ambassadors of the university, the Vice Chancellor noted that the Federal Government had committed both human and financial resources to ensure success of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Also speaking, Mr. Patrick Itsoya, the training coordinator, who lauded the university management for the provision of adequate facilities for the training and the show of understanding of the backgrounds of the delegates, however identified major challenges in the cause of training to include behavioral background on the part of delegates.

He charged the delegates to reciprocate the kind gesture of the university authority throughout one-month course, saying that had been an obvious transformation on the part of the Amnesty delegates.

Earlier, the Vendor and Chief Executive Officer of Jcs-Vicky Global Services, Mrs. Freeman Elah, had described the outcome of the training as most rewarding.

Mrs. Elah, who commended delegates for their good conduct, both in character and learning, noted with satisfaction that the outcome of the training programme would in no small way contribute positively to the society.

Mrs. Freeman also lauded Federal government for the sustaining Amnesty Programmme, solicited for its sustenance and provision of adequate funding to achieve set objectives of the ongoing reintegration phase of the Presidential Amnesty programme in the Niger Delta region.

Committing on the outcome of the training course, the class representative of the Amnesty trainees, Mr. Christopher Animadu, expressed profound gratitude to the Federal Government and the Presidential Amnesty Office and the training consultant for offering them the opportunity.

He appealed to Federal Government to assist the Amnesty delegates with agricultural loan and insurance scheme for them, and to ensure that their empowerment expedited without delay to enable them put into practice the knowledge they have acquired during the training.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/03/vc-lauds-fg-for-sustaining-amnesty.html