More Reactions Trail Gov. Okowa’s ₦57M Cash Awards to STEP, YAGEP, GEST Beneficiaries 

- Five to Ten Years, the Fruits of “Sabificate” Will Show in Nigeria-Okowa

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Laura Ese Oghene

1000 beneficiaries of the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) enrolled in the 2020/2021 Programme Cycle have officially graduated from the programme.

The Delta State Government has organized Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT) for 246 STEP graduands in Fashion Design and Tailoring

with a call on them to harness their hidden potentials creatively in order to become successful entrepreneurs in the Fashion Industry.

The Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, made the call during the EBMT for beneficiaries of 2020/2021 Cycle of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in Fashion Design and Tailoring.

Prof Eboh pointed out that the training was organized to expose the beneficiaries to business management and entrepreneurship skills in order to help them succeed in their enterprises. 

He affirmed that with the completion of the 2020/2021 STEP/YAGEP Cycle, the State Government has trained and established over 6,000 unemployed youths in vocational and agricultural enterprises through the job and wealth creation bureau.

He disclosed that seasoned resource persons were selected to teach them business skills such as, “How to start and run your business, how to manage your business money, how to grow your business, how to market your product, how to relate well with your customers., how to keep business records and how to cope with business challenges.”

He said the EBMT is the last part of the STEP training programme which comes after the trainees have undergone four other activities namely the Screening/Selection Process, Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training, Vocational Skills Training and Completion Proficiency Test. 

While congratulating them on the successful completion of the various training activities and the Completion Proficiency Test, he advised them to find a shop, set-up and register their businesses immediately after the EBMT and establishment with starter pack.

Also, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Monitoring and Mentoring (DYMM), Mr Edward Mekwunye, charged them to make good use of the opportunity provided by the State Government to become great entrepreneurs and successful business owners.

He assured them that DYMM would visit them to verify their business status at their shops two months after establishment and to enrol them for mentorship programmmes in line with the mandate of the agency.

In his lectures entitled, “How to Start Your Business” and “How to Write a Business Plan,” a resource person, Pastor Afolabi Adun, urged the graduands to carry out feasibility study/market survey about the business in order to understand the business environment better before setting-up.

He enjoined them to take seriously customer care and proper record keeping at all times. 

On her part, the Executive Assistant to the Governor/Coordinator Delta-UNIDO Centre & Export Initiative (DUCEI), Mrs Shimite Bello, in her lecture, “How to Market and Brand your Fashion Design Fashion and its Products from Start-Up,” tasked them to use their fashion skills as tools to become global entrepreneurs in the fashion market.

She emphasized that the end result and output of their productions would make them marketable in the global market, advising them to aspire to acquire more skills so as to attain perfection in their finished products.

In the same vein, the Creative Director of Signature Secret Fashion School, Dr Oreva Okowa, advised them to carve a niche for themselves by identifying specific areas of expertise in order to stand out among their competitors.

She urged them to register their businesses early enough, design their business logo and label as a way of branding their businesses.

Speaking separately, Ighomrore Evwikparobo ( Uvwie LGA) and Iwhiwhu Onoriode (Ethiope East) expressed gratitude to the State Government for the opportunity given to them to be enrolled in STEP, pledging to use the skills and knowledge acquired to become successful entrepreneurs and job creators.

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

Delta Government Gives Cash Awards of ₦57M to STEP, YAGEP, GEST Beneficiaries to Boost Their Businesses 

No fewer than 183 entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP,) Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and the Girl Child Empowerment Skills Training (GEST) have received cash awards to boost their enterprises.

The cash awards presented to them by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, were in different categories in fulfilment of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s promise to them during the Graduation Ceremony organized for 1,000 2020/2021 STEP and YAGEP graduands held in January this year.

While 75 outstanding STEP/YAGEP, including persons with disabilities and 4 GEST beneficiaries received ₦500,000 each, 62-member Job Creation Prosperity Choir received ₦10M and 40 Job Creation Smart Cultural Dancers got ₦7.5M.

Addressing the beneficiaries at the Unity Hall, Asaba, Chief Ukah, said the successes recorded by the beneficiaries by the job creation programmes of the State Government through STEP, YAGEP and GEST are testimonies of building a new Delta in fulfillment of Governor Okowa’s vision.

“My excitement is emotional by the expression of the beneficiaries because what I see in this hall and what I saw weeks back is what we hoped for to build a new Delta. The logo of the State on your shirts and the Delta Flag and of course our Anthem and you all sitting in this hall are testimonies of what we had in mind when we designed the shirts and the new Delta logo.

“We want to see a future of young men and women who will change the shape of Delta State. Delta has built roads and done a lot of things but one thing that the Governor cherishes so much is the Job and Wealth Creation Bureau. Our job is to build Deltans especially the youths,” he remarked. 

While tasking them to invest wisely the money received and to keep making the government proud with the skills acquired, he tasked them to uphold the philosophy of Okowa as an “Ekwueme,” as one who fulfills his promise to their communities. 

“Be dedicated to your businesses. Delta is number one in man-power development. What we do here is to teach you how to fish; not to give you fish to eat. Keep proper business record. The future of Delta State is in your hands. Do not abuse this opportunity. Single yourselves out as the best,” he added.

Earlier, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer and the Head of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, enjoined them to uphold the virtues of integrity and hard work at all times to sustain their businesses.

According to him, “today is evidence that hard work, perseverance, diligence, patience, integrity and honesty pay. The job creation bureau has imparted knowledge in you; these are the best gift in life and it will help you in your businesses.” 

On his part, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, Mr. Edward Mekwunye, urged them to make their lives purposeful through hard work in order to make the State Government’s investment on them worthwhile.

In the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Girl Child Empowerment Office, Mrs. Marilyn Daramola, described the award as well deserved especially at a time people are facing hard times, charging the beneficiaries to put it into good use.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Kelvin Atano, thanked the State Government for the kind gesture, pledging to invest the cash award wisely.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the symbolic presentation of a cheque of ₦500,000.00 to one of the beneficiaries by the SSG, Chief Patrick Ukkah.

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Laura Ese Oghene

Beneficiaries of the Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2015/2026 Cycle have commended the Delta State Government for donating a new generator to them to curb the challenge of power supply.

Beneficiaries located at the Delta State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (DARDA), Ibusa made the commendation when they received a 35KVA generator as replacement for a 12KVA one that was no longer functional.

YAGEPreneur Chiweike Nwankwo, in Fish Production, recalled that the State Government through the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau provided a 12 KVA generator to them in 2015 when they were established to begin their businesses as young entrepreneurs.

He said the old generator served them for six years till it packed up, adding that an appealed was made to the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh, on their predicament when they could no longer bear the burden of repairing it.

According to him, “We are super excited. In the words of Prof, ‘The desire of job creation bureau is to ensure continuity of our beneficiaries.’ Though I requested for a 12 KVA generator, he provided for us a 35 KVA one.

“I must say that the Delta State Government has not failed us. The response is always swift. Within a space of a month, we repaired the old generator with eighty thousand naira; but with this new one, our fears are gone.”

He expressed optimism that with the replacement of the ailing generator with a better one, the 2015/2016 Cycle YAGEPreneurs in DARDA were back in business.

On her part, YAGEPreneur Jane Uzonitcha in Poultry Production said the provision of the new generator was a huge relief to them, pointing out that their profit was spent repairing the old generator unlike now when they would need to buy only diesel.  

She also said the State Government has been a good father to them. “We are not abandoned at maturity. This is an indication of its determination to nurture and build a new generation of entrepreneurs.

“Being that it pumps faster, it will increase our efficiency and in the long run increase our profitability. My gratitude cannot be over-emphasized. With this new generator, necessity is laid on us to succeed as without water, nothing can work well in Fish and Poultry Productions,” she enthused.

Meanwhile the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh, explained that the new generator was necessitated by the plan to improve the operational sustainability of poultry and fish farm enterprises at YAGEP Farms Cluster located in the premises of DARDA. 

He said the generator would ease their cost of operations, make them more efficient and productive, adding that the impact would resonate in higher profits and greater ability to expand and grow their enterprises.

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

Bee farmers enrolled in the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2020/2021 Cycle have received farm support to expand their bee-keeping enterprises.

The beneficiaries numbering twenty-one were drawn from different local government areas across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The items presented to each beneficiary included ten bee hives; ten stainless stands; one stainless honey press; two metal smokers; one bee uniform; a pair of rainboot; a pair of hand cloves, and transport support.

In his remark, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, said the State Government was pleased to introduce apiculture among the agricultural enterprises supported under YAGEP.

He explained the inclusion of apiculture was informed by the commercial importance of its products particularly honey in food, beverages, pharmaceutical and other industries coupled with the profit potentials for youths in agriculture. 

According to him, “The beneficiaries are youths that are already involved in apiculture and physically verified as owners and managers of beekeeping enterprises. They were retrained to improve their production and management skills and practices. 

“Following their successful training, they are being provided today with support packages which comprise beehives with cover, iron stands, stainless honey press, smokers and bee suits. The support package is designed to help the beneficiaries grow and sustain their individual beekeeping enterprises.”

The job creation boss maintained that the support to youths in apiculture would impact on their output, productivity and incomes in line with the job and wealth creation agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Also, the Consultant and the Chairman, Beekeepers Association of Delta State, Comrade Sunday Ojenima, expressed happiness and appreciation to the State Government and to the job creation bureau for ensuring that apiculture is included in YAGEP.

He assured the state that with proper monitoring and mentorship, the YAGEPreneurs would enjoy bumper harvests in honey production by April next year.

Earlier, the Programme Supervisor (YAGEP), Mr. Sam Ndikanwu, pointed out that it was the first time bee-keeping was introduced in YAGEP, stating that the beneficiaries were appreciative of the efforts of the State Government to improve their production capacity.

He added that all the items needed for honey production had been given to them for the growth of their enterprises, beginning from the hives to the processing equipment.

He expressed hope that with the support package given to them coupled with the market availability, bee farming in Delta State would flourish.

Speaking differently, Mr. Jerome Unukevewere (Ughelli South LGA), Emeka Ossaite (Ndokwa West LGA) and Simeon Edeh (Warri South LGA) expressed their gratitude to the State Government for including apiculture among the agricultural enterprises in its job creation programme.

They said the support package would go a long way in helping them to expand their businesses, thereby improving their economic fortune.

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene

Delta Job, Wealth Creation Bureau Ensures Organizational Programme Sustainability into Future

In line with its vision of diversifying the state economy through agriculture, addition 43 livestock farmers have been enrolled into the State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP.)