DELTA STATE ICT - Youth Empowerment Program (YEP): ONE OF GOV. OKOWA'S LEGACIES ABOUT TO HIT THE ROCK*

The Delta State ICT Youth Empowerment Program introduced by our pragmatic and trail blazing Governor - Senator Doc Ifeanyi Okowa through the Ministry of Science and Technology is a program meant to equip youths of the state with cutting-edge ICT skills and innovative competencies. The program which the governor birthed with a lofty objective of empowering young Deltans with ICT skills and knowledge to be entrepreneurs and economic drivers was launched sometime in February 2021.

To ensure that very competent, passionate and committed individuals were enlisted for the program, a rigid and competitive selection procedure which involved CBT exams, certificate screening and oral interview were adopted by handlers of the program.

Upon completion of training, participants are to be provided with empowerment packages (starter packs) in the areas of their specialization to enable them start up entrepreneurship activities immediately. The program include training in Basic and Advanced Frontend/Backend Web Development, Mobile Development, UI/UX Design Essentials, Advanced Networking, CCTV Installations, etc.
Orientation/class resumption for selected candidates commenced on the 24th of May, 2021 at Delta State Innovation Hub Asaba.

The training which involved intensive lecture and hands-on sessions lasted for four months and participants were made to commit to full attendance which means them leaving their places of private assignments.

*Agony of Participants.*

The ICT-YEP had participants of Deltan decent from within and outside the state. On several occasions during the selection stage, participants had to travel from their various places of residence within and outside the state to Asaba.
Upon being successful in the selection process and subsequently offered admission, majority of the participants had to contend with accommodation challenge. While some who lived in neighboring communities of Ogwashi Uku, Agbor, Abraka, etc. had to come to Asaba daily for their training sessions, others who came from afar and could not be accommodated by relatives, friends and acquaintances had to secure short term accommodation for the duration of the program.
Even with the high cost of living in Asaba, participants were dedicated to their training schedules and activities with the consolation or taking solace in the better future that awaits upon completion of the program as they were promised to be adequately compensated through starter packs to immediately begin entrepreneurship.

For the duration of the training, participants having left their places of private assignment or personal hustling in the absence of official employment had to endure devastating hardship as they lived on monthly stipends of Ten Thousand Naira (#10,000) from the Ministry and support from relatives and acquaintances, for those who are from a privileged background.

Almost two (2) months after successful completion of the training, participants are yet to officially hear from the government as well as handlers of the program regarding the mode of empowerment (starter pack). Participants are therefore now very agitated, disquiet and losing patience and faith as a result of the prolonged silence from the government.

Delay in providing starter packs to participants would no doubt jeopardize attaining the objectives of the program and the good intentions of our trail blazing governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for introducing the program. Participants ought to be engaging skills and knowledge they have acquired and the promised starter pack is very instrumental to this.

This is therefore a call and plea on the governor and other stakeholders of the program to expedite actions to see that participants are given their due entitlements.
Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa Delta State Ministry of Science and Technology Delta State Innovation Hub

PLEASE AFTER THE RIGOROUS PROCESS OF SELECTION, MOST OF US BORROWED MONIES TO RENT ACCOMODATIONS IN ASABA AND ARE YET TO PAY THE DEBT, WE HAVE LEARNT THIS SKILL FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW AND ARE YET TO RECEIVE THE STARTER PACKS, IF THIS PACKS ARE NOT GIVEN TO US IN TIME ARE WE NOT GOING TO FORGET ALL WE LEARNT?

THE THEORY OF USE AND DISUSE STATES THAT A KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL USED WILL GENERATE AND WHEN NOT IN USE WILL DEGENERATE.

PLEASE THOSE IN CHARGE OF OUR STARTER PACKS SHOULD KINDLY UPDATE US FOR COLLECTION SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SING THE PRAISE OF OUR GOVERNOR WHO HAS ALWAYS HAD THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AS HIS KEY AGENDAS......

IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM THE MINISTRY IN TIME WE WILL BE FORCED TO GO TO SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTATORS TO CALL NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT WANTS TO SPOIL HIS EXCELLENCY'S GOOD AGENDA FOR THE STATE.

YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF WHAT HIS EXCELLENCY IS DOING... THAT'S WHY YOU ARE TOILING WITH PEOPLES FUTURE.

After spending so much time and resources, the trainees are yet to hear from the organizers. Why embark on a program which you are not ready for logistically? I sense embezzlement from somewhere and yet they will say they have empowered youth.

Everything about Delta state Government is scam.