One Hundred Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), beneficiaries have been inducted as fellows of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (IITH).
According to Ms Stella Inametti, Media Department, PAP, on Wednesday, the newly inducted fellows are the first tranche of beneficiaries to conclude a month-long training in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
Inametti said the training explored the diverse opportunities in Nigeria’s tourism sector, while highlighting the nation’s rich cultural heritage as a solid base for fashion and catering businesses.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, PAP, Brig.-Gen.Paul Boroh (Rtd) described the training as expansive enough to integrate key elements of Nigeria’s social environment as unique selling points for targeted Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the hospitality industry.
According to Boroh, the delegates would make remarkable contributions to the growth of the nation’s tourism and hospitality industry.
“I therefore urge them to engage in activities that will help sharpen whatever skills they now possess and to put these skills to use in ways that will benefit them and society, ” he said
Boroh was also expressed his support for young people who strive on their own to acquire skills in vocations that have bearing on subsistence.
The coordinator advised the beneficiaries to be worthy ambassadors of the Amnesty programme and their families, stating that society expects much from them.
The event in Yenagoa attracted a large turnout of guests which included strong representations from the state government and the traditional rulers council represented by HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff.
Gov.Seriake Dickson, who was represented by the Commissioner for Tourism Development, Mrs Ebiere Musa, at the event, encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity given them by the government to do great exploits in the hospitality and tourism sector.
He said the beneficiaries of have been equiped with practical and theoretical aspects in the industry to compete with their counterparts globally.
Inametti said the training of PAP’s beneficiaries in Tourism and Hospitality at the IITH is considered by the Amnesty Office as a homegrown approach to tackling some development needs in the Niger Delta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the Amnesty office said it would deployed 500 ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region for training and empowerment in Edo state college of Agriculture.
The Coordinator said agricultural education is the teaching of agriculture, natural resources, and land management through hands on experience and guidance to prepare the youths for advanced agricultural jobs.( NAN)