The Delta State Government in collaboration with Eastern Metal Limited, on Thursday flagged-off training of 500 artisans across the state.

Speaking at the ceremony held at the Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board headquarters in Asaba, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said his administration was committed to bequeathing young Deltans with relevant skills to make them self employed and employers of labour.

Represented by his Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Kingsley Emu, the governor stated that era of graduates waiting to be employed was over because of the increasing rate of unemployment in the country.

According to the governor, the essence of the programme is to up-skill the skills of practicing artisans in electrical, plumbing and tiling works with refrigeration/ air-conditioning in view through apprenticeship to make them employable and deployable.

“At the end of their training, successful trainees will be onboarded into the CLICKAFIX mobile market platform where they will have interface with clients and customers.

“Screening exercise was carried out for 371 applicants and 216 candidates were successful comprising Electrical 163, Plumbing 32 and Tiling 21, adding that the application portal is still open for interested Deltans to apply,” the governor stated.

Commissioner for Technical Education Princess Shola Daibo congratulated the trainees saying at the end of their training they would have improved their skills to world best practice and also enjoy the benefit of being gainfully employed.

“Today’s gathering is another witness to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s promise to build a stronger Delta through Economic Reforms for accelerated industrialization, strategic job and wealth creation for Deltans.

“In achieving this very objective, the Governor thought it wise to invest heavily in building modern Technical Colleges with the State of the art facility and also develop the skill competent of our youths in various Vocational trades in our Vocational Education Centres for self-reliant or gainfully employed.

“In this pursuit of a stronger Delta vision, the Governor did not hesitate to approve the collaboration with EML (Clickafix) proposal and fully paid for this up-skilling training programme for the selected artisans before onboarding them in Clickafix application platform.

“I am aware that those of you selected passed through rigorous proficiency test to demonstrate your level of skill competence in Electrical Installation, Plumbing and Tiling.

“Let me reiterate that you are Ambassadors and must not disappoint the State,” Daibo stated.

In his welcome remarks, Executive Secretary of the Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board Engr Smart Ikem said the programme will transform the artisans from local to International standard certified to work anywhere in the world.

“It is pertinent to note that this training shall be for a period of three (3) weeks intensive learning of morning and afternoon sessions through virtual and physical workshop practices.

“I will not fail to mention that Delta state Government have fully paid the Clickafix Academy fees and equally made provision for the smooth running of the programme.

“For effectiveness of this programme, the first phase will be kicked off with the successful 216 Artisans who have passed through the proficiency exercise where their demonstration of competency in Skills was put to test in Electrical, Plumbing and Tiling,” Ikem said.