LAGOS AUGUST 14TH (URHOBOTODAY)-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work done at the Skills Acquisition Centre in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, being constructed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The president, whose commendation was conveyed when he paid an inspection visit to the centre at the weekend, re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to transform every nook and cranny of the nation through massive infrastructure and institutional development.
According to him, no nation can develop without proper and adequate development of her manpower, adding: “I am particularly happy with what I have seen today; in fact, I commend the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for a job well done.”
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Peter Orubebe, who conducted the president round the centre disclosed that it was ready and would be open for use in September.
He noted that the president’s visit was preparatory to the inauguration of the project, adding that the Otuoke Skills Centre was built specifically to train youths, particularly from the Niger Delta, in oil and gas, maritime and other skills
Orubebe stated that at the end of the training, most of the youths would have acquired enough skills and knowledge to compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere.
He added that the centre would also boost capacity needed to qualify the youths for job placements in multinational oil companies operating in the region, thereby eliminating the discriminatory attitude of these companies, while others would be self employed.
The ministry, he pointed out, had also concluded arrangement to train some youths from Offa, Kwara State, in the art of block-making at the centre, noting that this initiative will not only create employment for the youths but will reduced restiveness among them.
The minister disclosed that the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a reputable firm in Ireland to train the youths.
He applauded the president for the transformation agenda initiative.
The Otuoke Skills Acquisition Centre is among the nine of such centres being built by the ministry in the nine Niger Delta states.
In another development, the people of Tuomo community, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, under the aegis of Godsday Orubebe Project 2015, have called on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.
A statement by its interim Chairman, Chief Akpola Ekperi and three others, after a meeting at the Tuomo residence of its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Peres Oloye, said: “The call became imperative considering the laudable achievements made by Elder Orubebe as a minister in the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.”
Noting that the minister was steadfast in his disposition in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Niger Delta region despite incessant criticism from some persons in the area, the group expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the dualisation of the East West Road.
They also mentioned the building of acquisition centres across the region, the expansion of Ohoro-Bomadi Road and other numerous projects in the region.
They said: “Orubebe, as a man of God, has the capacity to transform Delta State. We, therefore, urge all well meaning Deltans to key into the project.”
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