The Abia State government plans to establish a tuition-free school in each of its three senatorial districts for a one-year residential training programme for youths lacking skills.
The information and culture commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu, stated this when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, the state capital.
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He said, “This administration doesn’t believe in empowering youths with tricycles (Keke) and the like. Rather, it is interested in training them to acquire skills to stand on their own.”
Kanu said the training will feature the acquisition of skills in solar power assembling and installation, Plaster of Paris (POP) designing and installation, painting, masonry, and tiling, among others.
Accompanied by some of his counterparts, the information boss explained that at the end of the training, the graduates will be empowered with funds to establish their own businesses.
“Of course, you know that for quite a while now, we have been lacking artisans with these skills,” he further said.
He argued that with the move, the administration is now set to ensure that the state has enough youths ready to acquire skills to make a decent living for themselves and their families.
Kanu also announced that the administration had banned what is referred to as ‘One way traffic’ across the state, saying the ban is in keeping with the administration’s culture of doing things right.
He said in view of the earlier announced inauguration of the Geometric Power Company plant in Aba on Saturday, February 24, the administration has suspended this month’s sanitation exercise slated for that day.