FG train, empower 62 women, youths on confectionery, soap making

The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has trained and empowered another batch of 62 Niger Delta youths and women in soap making and confectionary.

Each participant was given the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira ( N300,000.00) as starter pack for the commencement of his/her enterprise.

The graduation ceremony of the two weeks training and empowerment programme took place in Awka, Anambra State.

While addressing the trainees at the closing ceremony, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor, Dr. Usani Uguru Usani told the participants that the essence of the training was “teaching you how to fish rather than just giving you fish to eat”.

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The Minister who was represented by Mr Philip Ndiomu, Deputy Director Economic Empowerment in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, advised the trainees to become change agents in the development of the Niger Delta region in particular and the country in general. Pastor Usani advised the beneficiaries to “start small and grow.”

The Minister assured that more Niger Deltans would be trained through similar training and empowerment programme from time to time.

One of the training consultant Mr Nonso Obi commended the trainees for their commitment and seriousness during the training. He advised that they make the best use of the knowledge imparted on them.

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Mr Obi thanked the Ministry for giving his company the opportunity to participate in the training programme.

One of the trainees, Ufuoma Okoro thanked the Federal Government and the Consultants for the training and empowerment programme.

Miss Okoro said that the training programme was educative. She said that the participants would pass the acquired Skills to other Youths of the Niger Delta region for meaningful engagements to reduce drug abuse, vandalisation of oil and gas pipelines and other vices.

It could be recalled that last month the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs trained and empowered 335 Niger Delta Youths and Women on Poultry, Fishery, Confectionary, Tiling and Landscaping at Ibadan Oyo State, Benin City, Edo State, and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Other training and empowerment programmes of the Ministry are going on in the Niger Delta region.