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From Femi Folaranmi, Bayelsa
Former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to train 100 Bayelsa youths and making economic self-reliance a priority of his government.
Jonathan who spoke as special guest of honour at the opening ceremony of NASENI Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment Programme on modern methods of electrical installation and maintenance in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, blamed Nigeria’s underdevelopment on the absence of science and technology culture and commended President Buhari for approving the training exercise which draws participants from all the three senatorial districts in the state.
He described Buhari’s focus on infusing engineering techniques training to empower youths as the right step in the right direction.
Jonathan said without investment in agencies like NASENI, and other research and technologies institutions, the quest for Nigeria’s economic transformations would be difficult to attain.
“Science and technology is the secret of the on-going fast developments and advancement in the economies of the developed world.”
He urged participants to use the starter packs and equipment given to them at the end of the five-day training to modernize their businesses. He warned them not to fall into the temptation of selling the starter packs worth millions of naira, but to use them in pursuing economic for self-reliance.
On his part, Governor Douye Diri urged governments at all levels to strive to build a massive pool of highly skilled manpower to drive the nation’s industrial development.
Diri, represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said his administration had trained thousands of youths through its skills acquisition and training programme in the state so far.
He called on the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, tasked NASENI to follow up and track the beneficiaries to ensure that the starter packs do not end up in the market.
Earlier, NASENI boss, Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi had said the training on modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance skill development workshop in Otuoke, was the second of its kind in the South-South zone.
