Governor Okowa gave the charge during the handing-out of starter packs to STEPreneurs trained for 6 months in the second batch of the 2015 cycle of STEP at the Cenotaph, Asaba.
The STEPreneurs who were 540 in number were empowered to begin small enterprises in three skills- Fashion Design and Tailoring, Electrical Installation and Repairs and Computer Hardware Maintenance and Repairs.
Addressing the STEPreneurs, particularly those trained in Electrical Installations and Repairs, who requested that a generator be added to their starter packs like their counterparts in Fashion Design & Tailoring and in Computer Hardware Maintenance & Repairs, Senator Okowa assured them that their grievances would be looked into, but frowned at the manner in which they expressed it.
According to him, “I want to believe that we want to succeed that is why we are eager to have the things that we need to work. I want to see you succeed individually. If at the end of my four years tenure, I begin to see that those who started small have become much bigger that is the joy that I will have.”
He advised them to work hard to grow their businesses so that gradually they could acquire more items in the future.
The Governor emphasized that the success of the STEPreneurs in the various enterprises is his administration’s vision for the job and wealth creation initiative.
While congratulating them on their graduation from the STEP, he reminded them of the Post-Graduation Process which involves monitoring and evaluation through the Job Creation Office to ensure that they get counselling and advice in the face of challenges.
He commended the Office of the Chief Job Creation and all those who took them through the trainings for the transparency in the programme.
Speaking on behalf of the STEPreneurs, the Coordinator of the group, Authentic Ojuwa, thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to them to become young entrepreneurs. He pledged that they would strive to work hard in order not to fail the Delta State Government.
He said their participation in the programme has made them ambassadors of prosperity, adding that they could see their future through their starter packs and the knowledge acquired during their training.
The items distributed to 258 STEPreneurs in Computer Hardware Repairs were a Laptop HP 4G 500GB; a 3-i-1 HP LaserJet Printer; a Micro Work- Station (Tool-Kit); a Generator 2500 SUMEC; Shop Rent Subsidy-#60,000.00; Starter-Up Allowance- #20,000.00 and a monthly stipend of #10,000.00 for a period of 3 months.
Under Fashion Design and Tailoring, 117 STEPreneurs received an Original Butterfly Sewing Machine; an Industrial Weaving Machine; a Generator 2900 {SUMEC}; a Cutting Table; Shop Rent Subsidy- #60,000.00; Start-Up Allowance- #25,000.00; Pressing Iron-#5,000.00 (monetized) and a monthly stipend of #10,000.00 for a period of 3 months.
For Electrical Installations and Repairs, 165 STEPreneurs got an Adjustable Aluminium Ladder (4-STEP);an Electric Drilling Machine; a Digital Multimeter; an Electrical Tool-Box (Complete Set); Shop Rent Subsidy- #60,000.00; Starter- Up Allowance- #30,000.00 and a monthly stipend of #10,000.00 for a period of 3 months.
The high points of the ceremony were the distribution of Starter Packs and the presentation of Certificate of Good Conduct to the best STEPreneurs, Mr. John Erumeru, Mrs. Lilian Anaba and Mr. Christian Ighade Onuv of the Electrical Installations & Repairs, Fashion Design & Tailoring and Computer Hardware Maintenance & Repairs Enterprises respectively.