150 Asaba Indigenes To Benefit Free Skills Acquisition ~ Truth Reporters

The United Nations (UN), philanthropists and well meaning Asaba indigenes have offered over 150 youths of Asaba extraction free skills acquisition training.

The laudable initiative is coming at the heels of the commemoration of the 2019 International Youth Day organized by the Asaba Development Union Worldwide, an Asaba social cultural organization.

The representative of the United Nations, Dr Amos Obi who is also a member of the Global Innovators for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) announced  that 100 youths would be trained on revolutionized digital transformative education.

Others are to be trained on film production and acting, computer appreciation and engineering, and to receive free sponsored training at the Asaba Vocational Centre.

Dr Obi who was one of the resource persons posited that for ‘Transforming

Education’, which is the theme of this year's International Youth Day to be accessible, affordable and inclusive even to the handicapped, there should be a paradigm shift from the conventional classroom teaching to digital education where people can learn, work and earn a living simultaneously from the comfort of their homes.

He pointed out that for education to be attractive to youths in the face of prevailing economic hardship, government education policy should focus more on digital education such as digital entrepreneurship that makes it easy for e-library research, creation of websites and bloggers, e-commerce, e-counselling and social media, adding that the world is  looking for innovators in green entrepreneurship that could combat adverse effect of climate change.

The provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Dr Mrs Anene Josephine Emeziogor, harped on the imperative for education curriculum to be tailored after entrepreneurship and skill acquisition to cater for the teeming unemployed youths.

Dr Emeziogor advocated that governments at all levels should collaborate with community, youths and relevant stakeholders in the education sector while planning their policy, stressing that its focal point must be youths' attitude, ability and capabilities.

She charged youths to abhor the get-rich-quick syndrome, lure of the lucre, cultism and acts of criminality even as she encouraged them to embrace entrepreneurship and skill acquisition as white collar job was now illusory.

The President-General of Asaba Development Union Worldwide, Professor Epiphany Azinge (SAN), the member repressing Oshimili South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Shedrack Rapu and former commissioner of Health Dr Ngozi Azinge, disclosed that they have explored various areas where the youths would be engaged in meaningful employment such as banks, Asaba textile mill when revived, and construction companies.

According to the facilitator of the event, Sister Augusta Kenibor, the International Youth Day created in 1985 has its objectives among others  to encourage interaction, increase knowledge, and develop trust between youths within and outside the community and around the world.

Others according to her, are to help draw attention and sensitize youths on dangers of prevalent social vices, and ensure public access to information, database registration of Asaba sons and daughters, create visibility between Asaba Development Union and the youths.