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By Onogwu Mohammed Galacticus.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has trained 2,457 youths on digital marketing and other IT entrepreneurial skills in Kogi state.
Declaring the training opened, the Special Adviser on SDGs to the governor of Kogi state, Arc Abdulmumeen Okara, stated that the objective of the training was to ensure that youths are presented with different opportunities to ensure they become self-reliant, in terms of job creation and creation of job opportunities.
He said, “with an enabling environment for youth empowerment, national development efforts are not only accelerated but sustainable as well. The number one goal of the Sustainable Development agenda is to eradicate poverty in all its form and when you equip the youth with modern technology, you are surely moving them out of poverty. This programme underscores the need for state and national concerted efforts to support youth development through the creation of opportunities for youth participation in all spheres of our national life.”
According to him, “the role of youth in their own development cannot be overemphasised. I urged the youth here to take an active part in their affairs and make responsible use of opportunities created for youth empowerment.”
He highlighted the need for youth to pursue self-help options, in terms of networks for both economic and social well being, such as, youth cooperatives and clubs would be a beneficial example of positive engagement and therefore charged them to seek opportunities that will advance their economic and social well being, urging them to shun violence, delinquency and other negative vices.
While thanking the Senior Special Assistant to Mr President on SDGs for collaborating with Kogi State Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs office to make the training a success, the Special Adviser assured OSSAP, Abuja of Kogi State’s continuous, unalloyed support and collaboration as they partner to develop the skills of the youths in the area of Information Technology, IT. He said one of the five thematic points of the current APC led government of Alh Yahaya Bello of KOGI State is job creation and youth development, noting that the New Direction government has trained over 5,000 youths in various skill acquisition programmes February this year and was committed to do more.
Sharing her experience during the training exercise, a participant, Esther Ojochide Itodo who opted for training in online marketing said that the training has given her hope of a better tomorrow.
Esther, like 2,456 others in kogi were given the opportunity to learn skills which will empower them to become self reliant and build self confidence.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with newsmen, she said she had learnt how to create personal and cooperate email account, blog, and use of google search and how to do online advertisement, a skill which she knew will give her a better future and make her self- reliant.
While appealing to government at all level to empower the youths with cash grant to enable them grow their business, Esther whoever said, “the training programme was a life transforming experience because it presented me with a good opportunity to equip myself to be self reliant, which will invariably help me earn more and cater for my growing family. I also intend to be an employer of labour; I plan to employ other people to help me in the trade. It was a good opportunity and I hope other youths in the State will also benefit from it.”
The exercise which took place in six (6) centers across the state, namely; Kogi State University, Anyigba, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Korea/Nigeria Institute, Lokoja, Multipurpose Cathedral Hall, Odolu-Kabba, Afims Hotel, Okene, and Okehi Civic Centre, Obangede all witnessed large turnout of participants.
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