Delta to establish teachers’ professional development centre

• Partners World Bank on job creation
The Delta State Government has approved the award of contract for the construction of Phase 1 of a Teachers Professional Development Centre (TPDC) at Owa–Oyibu in Ika North East Local Council of the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said in Asaba after the executive council meeting that the construction of Asaba–Ase/Abari Road using reinforced concrete rigid pavement in Ndokwa East and Patani Local Councils was also approved.

He added that the government further approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation and resurfacing of Owa-Alero/Idumueseh Road in Ika North East Local Government Area.

According to Ukah, the appointments of His Royal Majesty, Paul Odilile Opili, as the Onu of Ebu Kingdom in Oshimili North Local Government Area, as well as the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Kenneth Eneriakpoze Onomeregware as the Odio-Ologbo of Erowha Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area were also approved.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has validated the programmes for partnership and funding support for Delta State.

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who disclosed this in Asaba at the product exhibition and business fair to showcase the administration’s youth empowerment programme said that the support by the World Bank was in recognition of their potential to curb youth unemployment, create wealth and enhance social inclusion.

At the ceremony, which was witnessed by former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Okowa said that the National Competitive Council of Nigeria recently ranked the state as number one in the country on the human capital development index.

The governor told the 450 small business owners that it was cheering that they came to the Cenotaph venue to show Nigeria and the world what they have been able to do with their hands since they were set up by the government.

He disclosed that two years into the programme, over 2,324 previously unemployed youths are now small business owners and employees of labour through the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP).

He said: “Through our flagship, Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP), we have achieved what many thought was unthinkable over 2,324 previously unemployed youths are now small business owners and employers of labour.”