Trainers engaged by the Delta State Government to train beneficiaries of its Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) have been called upon to adhere strictly to the code of conduct guiding the implementation of the programme.
The Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer in the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, made the call during a Mid-Training Review Meeting held with STEP trainers in Government House, Asaba.
The Mid-Training Review Meeting which was interactive in nature was attended by 173 trainers covering the eight skills offered by the bureau such as Fashion Design and Tailoring; Catering and Confectionery; Welding and Fabrication; Electrical Installation and Solar Works; PoP, Painting and Screed-Making, Hairdressing and Braiding, Tiling and Interlocking, and Audio-Visual Services.
Prof Eboh pointed out that it was expedient the training process was reviewed to improve on what was being done and to ensure that the trainees graduated from the STEP programme highly equipped to work independently as business owners and entrepreneurs.
“Recall that during Trainers’ Orientation Workshop, strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for Trainers was emphasized and that you agreed that you would do your best as you work in partnership with the bureau. I enjoin you to adhere to the training module. It is a guide prepared by the unified collaboration framework of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP); Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP); Girl-Child Entrepreneurship Skills Training (GEST); Rural Youth Entrepreneurship Skills Acquisition (RYSA); Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP) among others,” he remarked.
He advised them to see themselves as mentors to the trainees and to maintain cordial relationship with them so as to bring out the best in them and to bring to pass the vision of the state government of building them into successful entrepreneurs, managers and business owners.
He charged them to sign the daily activity log book and to report to the bureau any form of gross misconduct, absenteeism, truancy by the trainees, warning that any trainer found wanting would be delisted from the programme.
“We are holding you accountable for them. Live up to the responsibilities. How the programme ends will be a lasting memory in the minds of Deltans. We shall be meeting with the trainees too. Enforce discipline and take responsibility. We are looking forward to a more improved training process. We value your partnership and always remind your trainees that the day of reckoning will come which is the Post-Training Proficiency Test (PTPT),” he stated.
On his part, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, Mr. Edward Mekwunye, reiterated that the essence of the interactive meeting was to ensure that the success recorded in the programme in the past six years is sustained.
He admonished them to work with the terms of reference agreed on before they were engaged by the state government to train the beneficiaries, tasking them to shun all forms of negative attitudes that could jeopardize the success of the programme.
Speaking differently, the Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Job and Wealth Creation in the bureau, Mr. Emmanuel Osazuwa, Mr. Frank Ebikefe, Prince Charles Abutoh and Engr. Chukwuka Osumili harped on the importance of maintaining high training standard. They explained that the success of the trainees would be a credit to the training center that produced them especially if the trainees do well in the PTPT, urging them to display high sense of discipline and honesty at all times.
By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh