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| Olowolabi (c) with stakeholders and N-Power participants |
By Sola Omoboyowa, Akure
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Yemi Olowolabi has charged the outgoing participants of Batch 2016 of the N-Power programme and the incoming Batch 2017 of the Scheme to be creative during and after the empowerment programme, in order to achieve success in the nearest future.
Speaking at a meeting with the participants that were posted to Idanre Local Government Universal Basic Education Authority, Owena on Monday, the Commissioner said skill acquisition is the key to the future and harped on the need for the youth to acquire one skill or the other, saying it would go a long way in assisting the participants in achieving greater power in the future.
Mr. Olowolabi also urged the outgoing Batch of the Scheme to key into various empowerment programmes of the Ondo State Government, such as youth on the ridges and other schemes that were designed to create employment for youths in the state.
The Information and Orientation Commissioner added that over 18,000 youths have been engaged by the state government in the last one year, adding that more youths would benefit from various programmes that would make them to be self reliant and job creators.
He, therefore commended the Federal Government for introducing the programme to tackle unemployment in the society, noting that the gesture had kept lots of people off the labour market because they are now gainfully engaged.
Also speaking, the Education Secretary of Idanre Local Government, Mr. Victor Alalabiaye said the local government education authority called the meeting to let them know the importance of their assignment and to introduce the incoming participants to the outgoing members of the scheme.
He stated that the federal government had done well for introducing the programme, which he said would go a long way at tackling unemployment in the country.
The Education Secretary congratulated the newly engaged participants that they were lucky to be engaged, noting that a lot of people applied for the voluntary scheme but they were not chosen.
He also advised the participants to be dedicated to their duties and make sure they report at duty post at all times. He added that they should not see the 30,000 allowance as a national cake because the federal and state governments have set up a monitoring team to move through out the local government and enforce compliance.
Mr. Alalabiaye sought the cooperation of the participants to ensure that the 2017 Batch of the Scheme is successful in the local government by adhering to the rules of engagement.
Speaking on behalf of the outgoing participants, Mr. Samson Etame and Mrs. Febisola Oladele lauded the federal government for initiating the scheme and appealed for the sustainability of the programme.
In the same vein, Mr. Oluwaseun Adegoke who spoke on behalf of the newly incorporated members said they are happy to be part of the 2017 Batch of the programme and promised that they would put in their best to develop the education sector at the grassroots .
Media Manager, Ministry of Information
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