- FG Partners Czech Republic on Skills Devt
Nigeria and the Czech Republic are to collaborate on imparting vocational skills on Niger Delta youths with a view to curbing the rising rate of unemployment and youth restiveness in the region.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, who made the disclosure when the Ambassador of Czech Republic, Pavel Mikes, paid him a visit, was excited by Czech Republic’s feat of reducing unemployment rate to zero per cent, through vocational training, and subsequently, boosting its economic growth.
He said that Nigeria would embrace that country’s offer to impart skills on Niger Delta youths.
A statement by the Director (Press), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Marshall Gundu said that the minister disclosed that the federal government was interested in more proactive means of permanently curbing the rising restiveness in the Niger Delta region as well as improving the revenue base of Nigeria’s economy.
In his remarks, Ambassador Pavel Mikes said the visit was necessitated by the interest of Czech Republic in helping Nigeria, especially the Niger Delta region, develop the mental and vocational abilities of its youths, adding that his country was interested in helping the Ministry utilise various skills acquisition centres it has put in place.
Mikes added that skilled resource persons and equipment would be brought from Czech Republic to facilitate the vocational training programmes.
A former Ambassador of Nigeria to Czech Republic, Ambassador Catherine Okon, who facilitated the partnership, urged the minister to utilise the partnership maximally to equip Niger Delta youths with employable skills as paying of grants and stipends to youths is not going to curb the menace of restiveness as they will spend the money and become restive again.
