Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has promised outstanding trainees in the digital marketing and skills development workshops organised by his administration start-up funds as well as other forms of support.

According to the governor, this will help them kick-start their businesses and in turn transfer their skills to other youths to boost employment creation in the state.

Obaseki, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Employment Barr. Emmanuel Usoh at the Workshop for Youth Empowerment on Digital Marketing and Skills Development in Benin City yesterday, with the theme: “Diversifying the Nigerian Economy: Enabling Youth through Digital Skill Training,” urged the trainees to make the best of the opportunity.

The governor disclosed that “the Bank of Industry (BOI); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other development partners give us grants to empower these participants which will help create jobs. Training is endless and I urge you all to take the workshop seriously as the training you receive here today will equip you and place you in a better position digitally to rule the world.”

He emphasised that his administration places huge premium on digital technology and assured that he would create the platform for the trainees to actualize their dreams.

He further called on the 2,100 participants who were selected from the over 150,000 job seekers in the Edo jobs portal to make use of the opportunity created by the workshop to better their lives and create jobs for others.

“It is a great opportunity to talk to you and encourage you to do what is necessary to create wealth for yourselves. In doing this you must plan, prepare and participate fully in this training. Edo State is blessed and strategically located, and at the centre of economic activities, with the capacity to become the economic hub of the nation” Obaseki said.

He stressed that Edo people are intelligent, creative, smart and are good people who are business-oriented and can use their potentials to make the state great, adding “We have a government well positioned to ensure that every Edo man or woman has the potential to create wealth and contribute to the development of the State.”

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the training which was designed for about 250, 000 youths, was ongoing across the country.

Orelope, who was represented by her Press Secretary, Tunde Oyasanya, said one of the cardinal goals of the SDGs was to ensure that youths are empowered to reduce poverty and joblessness in the country.

The Director of Information and Communication Technology, Edo State, Yuwa Naps, said the ultimate goal for the training was to make digital entrepreneur out of the participants. “This will be followed by a three weeks online training for them. We are planning to invest in the exceptional participants among them and grow them into entrepreneurs that we will closely monitor” she said.

A Google certified trainer Elijah Otor said the participants were being trained on Digital Skill 101 which is an orientation course and an introduction to the programme.
He said they were not expected to understand all the things taught in just a day.


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DSC-0682: The Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperative and Employment, Barrister Emmanuel Usoh, addressing some participants at a two-day Workshop on Digital Marketing and Skills Development organized by the Edo State Government in collaboration with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Imaguero Grammar School Benin City, Edo State on Monday 24th July, 2017.

The Edo State Government is set to seal a partnership deal with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, on bulk power supply to boost industrial activities in the state.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this when he received the management team of the NDPHC who paid him a business visit yesterday in Benin City.

Obaseki said he was optimistic that about 2,000Mega Watts of power could be generated from the power plants in the state in the next few years.

He explained that what was of immense concern to him was the utilisation of the power that would be generated from the power plants in the state, and added that his administration intends to make the Sapele road axis an industrial site and an electricity generating corridor.

‘’Now that we have found electricity, what are we going to do with it, is there no opportunity for us to think of working with you directly?”

‘How we can bring in people who will buy bulk power and distribute it close to our people who will use it for production purpose.

Earlier, the Managing Director/ CEO of NDPHC, Mr. Chinedu Ugbo said Edo was a major stakeholder in power generation.

He disclosed that governor Obaseki is on the new board to be inaugurated by the Company soon, adding that the visit was to strengthen areas of collaboration.

He said that the company had planned seeking the state approval for the bulk power supply arrangement, and expressed delight at the governor’s support which has opened the way for more opportunities.

‘’Edo is host to one of the big plants which is located along the Benin by-pass” Ugbo said, and commended the host community for their cooperation in ensuring a peaceful business environment.

He listed some of the challenges affecting the company in the state as irregular gas supply and electricity uptake which affect electricity distribution to consumers.



PHOTO CAPTION:

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State (6th from left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Akerele (7th from left) with executives of the Niger Delta Power Holding Development Company (NDPHC) who paid the governor a business visit in his office yesterday.