Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has said that skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development courses should be made compulsory for all students in institutions of higher learning in the country.

The Governor made the call yesterday (15/05/19) during an on-the-spot inspection of facilities at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.

Impressed by the achievements recorded in the skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes of the institution, the governor said that from this year, the best fifty graduating students in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes will be empowered to set up their businesses.

“I have encouraged all higher institution in the country to ensure that no student leaves the institution without requisite training in entrepreneurship development,” the governor said, adding, “if we strengthen skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development, we will have creators of jobs, creators of wealth as graduates in the new Nigeria.”

He continued, “a new narrative can come out from Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku by utilising the knowledge acquired with hands and brains which is very important for you to succeed in modern Nigeria; the best skilled students will be empowered by the state government to be able to start on their own and I want to state it here that the best fifty students which will be taken from different departments will be equipped to start their own businesses.”

“The empowerment is to fully provide the basic needs and we hope that they will be role models; a minimum of fifty students will be equipped to start their own businesses starting from this year; we want to also, challenge ourselves in this polytechnic to provide instruments and equipment that will be used locally to better the lives of our people,” he stated, emphasising: “The graduates should be proud of their alma mater and the institution in the next four years should be proud of their graduates.”

While commending the Governing Council, Management and staff of the polytechnic for their transformational efforts, Governor Okowa also urged students of the institutions to desist from joining any form of secret cult but, work towards building a better future for themselves saying, “if you are thinking right and working very hard, you will be what you want to be; think about your future – ten years, five years from now, what will you be?”

The Chairman, Governing Council and the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Festus Okubor and Prof. Stella Chiemeke respectively, in their separate addresses, thanked Governor Okowa for his administration’s commitment to the development of institutions of higher learning in the state by providing the needed infrastructure and also, encouraging the youths to build a better future for themselves through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes.

The governor was taken round the welding workshop, entrepreneurship and skill acquisition department, Mass Communication studio, among others.

•Photo shows Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (right) and Commissioner for Higher Education, Hon. Engr. Jude Sinebe, during the Inspection of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku.

Update news