Govt Launches Employment Programme For Councils

HUNDERDS of youths in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State have benefitted from the free application forms for admission into the state Education For Employment (E4E) programme, that was recently flagged-off.

The programme, introduced by the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, offers to train youth on skills that will equip them for self-employment.

Speaking at the flag-off, which will be conducted across the 17 council areas, the Chief Executive Officer of Kiara College in the United Kingdom, Mr. Endi Nwangwa, who handles the programme, said the E4E was informed by the governor’s passion for practical education geared towards immediate employment or self-employment.

He said the purpose of the first stage of the E4E is to get the data of unemployed youths and their skills inclination; the labour needs of industries; and others, with a view of tailoring the programme in that direction.

The Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro, who represented the governor described youths as the pillars on which the state and nation stand and revolve.

He explained that the essence of the data capture is to determine their skill needs, while the data from the industry sector is to determine what the state posses.

The SSG therefore urged stakeholders to embrace E4E, which he said, “is a new platform to redesign our own destiny and better our youths by thinking out what we require to do in this programme.”

The E4E Consultant, Ezengwa met with stakeholders and educational institutions and training providers, drawn from ministries, industries, employers, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umuahia, Abia State University (ABSU), Abia State Polytechnic Aba, State College of Education- Technical Arochukwu, principals of technical colleges designated as the E4E pilot schools, ministries, and others with a view to discussing their role modalities.