The Delta Government has said that about 850 youth would benefit from the state’s Job Creation Programme in 2020.
Prof. Eric Eboh, Job Creation Officer of the state’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), disclosed this on Wednesday during an Orientation Workshop for Trainees of the 2019/2020 STEP in Warri.
Eboh said that the idea was part of government’s effort to reduce unemployment among youths in the state.
According to him, STEP was one of the flagship job creation models of the Delta Government, adding that 5000 youths had benefited from the scheme since inception in 2015.
He also said that the 2020 job creation programme would be done in two categories, “Green and Brown”.
“There will be a Post Training Proficiency Test (PTPT), which will be compulsory for all “Green STEP” beneficiaries on completion of their vocational training.
“Competence and good mastery of skill will qualify a trainee to be established with the starter pack.
“The ‘Brown STEP’ category will only admit candidates who do well in the Pre-Admission Proficiency Test (PAPT),” he said.
Eboh added that the duration of some of the vocational and agricultural enterprises would be extended beyond three and six months.
According to him, the essence was to enable the beneficiaries to acquire the necessary skills and good mastery of the enterprises for sustainability.
He, however, advised the trainees and trainers not to compromise quality, which according to him was the hallmark of the job creation programme in the state.
Also speaking, Pastor Afolabi Adun, advised the trainees to take good advantage of the programme.
Adun who spoke on “The Right Mindset and Attitude For Skills Learning Towards Self-employment,” said that the training would help to prepare the beneficiaries to become self-reliant and also useful to the society.
Some of the trainees thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for the gesture and promised to do their best and be good citizens of the state.