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Delta State government has extended its Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme to 29 more persons with disabilities (PwDs), bringing to 80 the number of PwDs included in the job creation training and empowerment scheme under the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration’s SMART agenda that targets prosperity for all Deltans.
The 29 persons, the second tranche of the PwDs, are to be trained and empowered in 2017/2018 cycle of the scheme. They were drawn from the various cluster groups and evenly distributed across the 25 LGAs of the state.
They would be trained for a period of three to six months depending on their trade, using the community based vocational rehabilitation (CBVR) model approach where trainees are attached to relevant trainers in their respective communities of residence, clustered and provided with interpreters where necessary to facilitate learning within the stipulated time.
The Commissioner for Women Affair, Community and Social Development, Williams Omatsola, made the disclosure while declaring open a one-day orientation course organised by the Chief Job Creation Officer in collaboration with the ministry, in Asaba, Monday, April 9.
Williams, a reverend, said the governor approved the 29 beneficiaries as a result of his continuous passion for the welfare of the PwDs in the state, coupled with the success story of the first tranche of PwDs trainees engaged in the programme last year (the 2016/2017 cycle).
According to her, the 51 persons who were trained in the first tranche (2016/2017 cycle) were drawn from the various cluster groups and equitably distributed on the basis of two per LGAs across the state.
“I am delighted to recall, here that because of the present administration’s avowed commitment in ensuring that all categories of persons are carried along without discrimination of their birth, health condition etc in 2016/2017 cycle magnanimously approved, trained and empowered 51 PwDs drawn from the various cluster groups and equitably distributed on the basis of two per LGAs across the state”, she stressed.
They were in their respective chosen trades ranging from Information Communication Technology (ICT), hair dressing, carpentry, aluminium works, fashion design, catering/confectionaries, among others.
She expressed gladness to the state that the beneficiaries are presently doing well in their various trades as attested during their participation in the state trade fair organised in December last year by the state job creation office for the past trainees.
She thanked the governor for approving the 29 slots for the PwDs even as she explained that the aptness of the orientation course was to enable stakeholders to rob minds and strategise on how to synergise to achieve the desired result.
To this end, she urged the trainees to take the course and subsequent training seriously towards the realization of the goals.
The chief job creation officer of the state, Eric Eboh, in his speech, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of PwDs. He said their inclusion in the job creation programme was to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills required to make them self-reliant and business managers.
Eboh, a professor, reaffirmed that the beneficiaries would be given starter packs after their training period to establish their own enterprises and would be paid a monthly stipend of #10,000.00 within the three to six months training duration.
While informing them that the Directorate of Youth Monitoring and Mentoring (DYMM) would regularly visit them to monitor their progress throughout the programme, Eboh charged them to uphold discipline and hard work at all times.
Responding on behalf of PwDs, their state chairman, Isaac Ogbruche, lauded the kind gestures of Governor Okowa for running an all-inclusive government.
He tasked the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunities so as to become self-reliant and to encourage the government to continue with the programme.
