Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Wednesday, took oath for a second term in office, alongside his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro, with the governor pledging that his administration would devote substantial resources, time and energy to building a knowledge-based economy that empowered over 20,000 Deltans with entrepreneurial skills in the next four years.
He also pledged to build a stronger and more prosperous state in the second tenure that would span 2019 to 2023.
The governor spoke in an address he delivered at the inauguration ceremony held at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, shortly after being administered oath of office by the Chief Judge of the State, Marshal Umukoro.
“Many of you present here will testify that we devoted substantial resources, time and energy to build a knowledge-based economy and a critical mass of skills for entrepreneurship and business competitiveness; and over 20,000 persons benefited from the administration’s flagship Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and similar programmes undertaken by the Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry, Women Affairs as well as the Delta State Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (DEMSMA).”
He noted that part of the administration’s efforts in building a knowledge-based economy included the rehabilitation of a total of six technical colleges at Agbor, Sapele, Ofagbe, Utagba-Ogbe, Ogor and Issele-Uku.
He stated that plans had been concluded for the construction of 19 more technical colleges to ensure that every LGA in the state has at least one technical college. This, he said would encourage skills and entrepreneurship development of the people.
He assured that the curriculum of tertiary institutions in the state would be overhauled to include courses in personal development and problem solving.
The governor who scored his administration high in the management of human and material resources, disclosed that during his first term in office, his administration through the Ministries of Works, Urban Renewal and the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, embarked on a total of 455 road projects comprising 1,269.42 kilometres and 517.34 kilometres of drainage channels.
As at the end of April this year, 263 of the roads, covering 638.23 kilometres and 295.71 kilometres of associated drains had been completed, Okowa explained.
He further listed his achievements in the various sectors of the economy including health, agriculture, amongst others and solicited the cooperation of the people of the state for a successful second term in office.
