Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige
The people ofIfitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State on Friday said the community would contribute money for the purchase of form for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid saying that he has done well in his first tenure.
The traditional ruler of Ifitedunu, Dr. Emeka, who made the assertion at the foundation laying ceremony for the Federal Specialist skills Acquisition Center in the community, said that president Buhari had done well enough to merit a second term in office.
He said: “It is only in Buhari’s administration that our community through our son, Dr. Chris Ngige, has benefited such good will from the federal government.”
The project which is one of the programmes being handled by the Buhari administration as a way of helping young graduates acquire skills that will help them become self reliant is expected to be completed in three months.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said that funds for the special acquisition centre has been having been cited in the 2017 budget with a spill over in the 2018 budget.
He described the skill acquisition center as a special center that will include primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Ngige explained that the primary level will include people that want to learn the skills of making POP, plumbing, carpentry, painting, etc, while the secondary level will be for people with prior knowledge of the afore mentioned skills.
He added that the center will also offer Nigeria trade test 1, 2 and 3.
The minister said: “People who have gone to school should make themselves available so they can be empowered to know how to fish rather than being given fish.
“What we are doing in Nigeria is to bring us at par with contemporary countries like India, Brazil and the likes.
“The school system here is not well adapted in skill acquisition. On inception of this government, oil dropped from hundred dollars per barrel to thirty dollars per barrel and there was no money in the savings hence, there is no money.
“The president shifted our country’s dependence to agriculture and it is working. Nigeria can feed itself now in terms of rice and beans. We have to be upright in this country for things to work.”
While saying that such acquisition already exist in Jos, Lafia, Port Harcourt, etc, Ngige commended the community for generously providing the three thousand square meter land located at Igbuala village, Ifitedunu for the center without seeking government compensation.
According to him, “Those who want government to help should lead the way.”
In his speech, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, thanked the federal government for the gesture adding that the job of the government is to create opportunities for the youths through special skills.
He said: “We need more of the skill acquisition centers in the state, that will help our kids to be gainfully employed and in so doing, keep away from crimes.”
Okeke observed that provision of employment is nation building and development hence, it must be pursued.
He thanked people of Dunukofia for supporting Governor Obiano’s second term bid through their hundred percent vote for All Progressives Alliance (APGA).
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