As Abia State Government prepares for the kick-off of its proposed Education of Employment Programme (EEP), the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged technical schools in the state to brace up to the challenge of producing practical-oriented manpower that would be relevant to the technological and economic needs of the nation.

Ikpeazu explained that his administration would tailor the EEP to achieve this goal, adding that a curriculum of the programme would be designed to engage teachers and students on the practical aspect of their studies, just as stakeholders have canvassed for establishment of more technical schools to realise the objective.

The governor disclosed this during an EEP stakeholders engagement meeting held in Umuahia at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, adding that government decided to embark on the programme as a measure to arrest the growing trend of breeding graduates and youths who are unemployable because they lacked skills, education and technical knowledge.

Represented by his deputy, the governor announced that the programme would be launched during the anniversary of his first 100 days in office, with pilot schools established in Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia to cover the three senatorial zones

He said that his government, at inception, anchored its policies on the five pillars of Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Commerce, Industry and education to fast-tarck the development of the state.

Secretary to the Abia State Government, (SSG), Dr Eme Okoro, in his remarks, said it was a deliberate strategy by the Ikpeazu administration to involve all stakeholders who were expected to make contributions and proffer solutions on revitalising the education sector in a manner that would encourage youths to be useful in a competitive, technology-driven world.

Permanent Secretaries and other stakeholders who graced the forum stressed on the need to establish more technical schools in the state to boost training of skilled manpower which serves as the driving force of technology globally.

Earlier in his presentation, the Coordinator of the programme and Chief Executive Officer of Kiara College, United Kingdom, Mr Endi Ezengwa, explained that the objective of the programme included developing human resource capital of the state and improve the quality of life of Abians through provision of education and other support services that could lead to acquisition of skills for self, private or public employment.

Permanent Secretaries present at the forum included Elder Ifeanyi Agbai (Ministry of Information & Strategy), Dr. Johnson Uzoatuegwu (Sports), among others, as well as the Director (Technical), Ministry of Education, Mr. G. C. Ahuruonye.

•Photo shows Ikpeazu

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