Delta trains more youths on leather works

More youths of Delta State are undergoing training on leatherworks/footwear production as part of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s efforts to grow the non-oil sector of the state economy.

A total of 100 persons have been selected for the basic training which was recently flagged off with the first batch made up of 40 beneficiaries.

Executive assistant to the state governor and coordinator, Delta UNIDO Centre/ Export Initiative (DUCEI), Shimite Bello, told journalists in Asaba that the programme was a result of Governor Okowa’s passion for human capital development.

Bello addressed the first batch of trainees, at the Delta State Leather-works/ Shoe Factory located in Issele-uku community in Aniocha North local government area of the state.

Within the period, they will learn the basics of leather works and should be able to produce footwear (sandals etc) and other things like wallets, belts, key-holders as well as have basic instructions on how to handle leather.

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Bello said at the end of the basic training, they would be empowered with starter packs in the form of equipment, to enable them to produce at that level.

She said that from the basic class, the successful ones would move to the intermediary class and that it was expected that at least 25 beneficiaries would make it to the advanced stage of the programme. At each stage, there are starter packs for the successful ones, she disclosed.

According to her, what the state government wants is to get more people into human development. “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa believes in human capital development; he believes in skills acquisition; he understands that the government is struggling to pay salaries and it would be easier to help people become employers of labour,” she said.

“So, following his stronger Delta mantra, this is another training in which he wants to get more people trained in the skill they can combine with what they already had, in order to be able to cater for themselves and their families.”

She advised the beneficiaries to be truthful to themselves and learn all they need to learn, interact with one another, keep in touch with their trainers.

“They should take their work seriously because an embargo has been put on importation of a lot of goods by the Federal Government. So, this is an opportunity for them to fill the gap with Made-in-Nigeria products.

“It is also connected to what we are exporting. The only thing we export is Made-in-Nigeria products. We have three sectors namely: food & beverages, arts & crafts; fashion & textile.