Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government to study and adopt the empowerment module of the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

Atiku, who is the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 16, 2019 presidential election, made the call on Thursday in Asaba at the second Job Creation Exhibition for beneficiaries of Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship (YAGRP) and Graduates Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP) skill acquisition and entrepreneurial programmes of the Okowa administration.

According to Atiku, who was represented at the event by his running mate, Mr Peter Obi, “These wealth creation programmes are practical and realistic and the Federal Government should visit Delta State to understudy the schemes and implement them for the benefits of Nigerians and the speedy industrial revolution of the country.”

The PDP presidential flag bearer commended Governor Okowa’s administration for the initiative, assuring that his administration would explore sustainable means to create wealth for Nigerians. “I want to urge the Federal Government to come to Delta State to learn how to create jobs, trader money is wasteful as it does not create jobs; for peace to reign in Nigeria, we must create jobs for the youths as it is done in Delta State; this Delta State job creation projects not only train the youths but, mentor them, empower them and monitor them to be successful entrepreneurs; this is what we will do for our youths when we take over government,” he said.

Governor Okowa had in an address, said: “After three full cycles of implementing these flagship programmes, I can boldly say that we have inched closer towards our goal of a more prosperous, diversified and resilient economy.

“There is no better evidence of this assertion than the scores of previously unemployed youths who have become successful entrepreneurs and are here today to exhibit their products and services. 4,253 previously unemployed youths have become business owners across various skills areas, notably, Catering, Event Management, Beauty Services, Agricultural Production, Agricultural Processing, Food Packaging, Tiling, Plumbing, Electrical Installations, among others.”

While noting that the job creation efforts of his administration are a resounding success, Okowa congratulated the beneficiaries of the programme for the success stories assuring that the number of beneficiaries of his programmes will triple in the next four years.

Chairman, steering committee on job creation in the state, Mr Kingsley Emu, thanked Okowa for his commitment to job creation for Deltans while the Chief Job Creation officer in the state, Prof. Eric Eboh, urged Deltans to patronise the exhibitionist as the exhibition will last for two days.

•Photo by Bripin Enarusai shows Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa (left), welcoming the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Peter Obi, to the State Job Creation Exhibition in Asaba.

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