–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Albert OGRAKA:
Twenty-six beneficiaries of the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), on Friday, September 25, 2020 received their starter packs in Asaba, having successfully completed their training and passed the second Post Training Proficiency Test (PTPT) in cosmetology, decorations and event management, fashion design, hairdressing and makeover, information technology services, plumbing as well as welding and fabrication.
The Beneficiaries were earlier suspended from receiving their starter packs after failing to fulfill the initial requirements of Post Training Proficiency Test organized by the Delta State Job Creation office.
The PTPT is one of the measures put in place by the Delta State Job Creation office to ensure that beneficiaries of the various programmes acquire the basic skills in which they were trained and to enforce discipline and diligence on the part of the trainers and the trainees.
The 26 beneficiaries, according to the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh, constitute the third batch of those who have received starter packs in the 2019/2020 Programme Cycle, and those who spilled over from the first and second batches but had to undergo a remedial course on their own and then return to retake the PTPT.
“They reassessed themselves and we administered the test to them and they came out successful. PTPT was introduced in the fourth cycle to ensure that the beneficiaries actually learned the skill and as part of the State Government’s efforts to enforce discipline and to ensure that the beneficiaries take the programme seriously,” he pointed out.
The highly elated beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for giving them a second chance.
Ajueyitisi Blessing (Uwvie LGA) in Hairdressing, Makeover and Braiding, said she was grateful for the opportunitygiven to beneficiaries who failed the PTPT to repeat the test, saying that the gesture was borne out of Governor Okowa’s commitment to nurturing them as entrepreneurs and job creators.
“It was a very painful experience for me because I realized that I did not put in much effort. I had to pay my trainer to re-train me for one month; I made sure I put in more effort, night and day, to achieve success. I thank our Governor for the opportunity he gave to us to retrain to become entrepreneurs. I hope to grow my business in order to train others.”
On her part, Igben Vivian (Ethiope West) in Cosmetology explained that she could not sleep for three days when she learnt she was not invited to receive starter pack along with her mates because she failed the PTPT.
While expressing happiness at the quality of items that make up her starter pack, she recounted her experience, “I paid to relearn; with more efforts and seriousness, I passed the test to qualify for starter pack. Are all these items mine? I am grateful to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. I shall put them into good use to make Delta State proud”
For Ahworegba Goddy (Isoko South LGA) in Event Management and Decoration, he said he missed the first proficiency test because his phone was unavailable as at of the time he was invited for it by the job creation office.
He said he was optimistic that he would use his skill as an Event Manager to live a meaningful life and to create job for other unemployed youths.
Speaking earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Wealth Creation and former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr. Edewor Tony Omonemu, congratulated the beneficiaries for surviving the programme from the onset, till the Proficiency Test, which is a crucial hurdle.
He advised them to try and make the state government proud for spending it’s resources on them and to put them into maximum use in order to fulfil the vision of the Governor of nurturing them into great entrepreneurs who would drive the state economy.
