Kogi Trains, Empowers 250 Youth in Different Skills …..promises to train and equip minimum of 1000 youth annually

By Rotimi Odofin

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continuously training 1,000 youths annually in skills acquisition as a crucial step towards enhancing human capital development.

Governor Ododo reiterated this pledge during the graduation ceremony of 250 youths who successfully completed various skills acquisition programs under the Ododo Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Programme (OYESA).

This initiative is designed to equip participants with industry-relevant skills, thereby enhancing their employability and contributing to the state’s human capital development.

Implemented in collaboration with the state-owned Nigeria-Korea Friendship Institute for Vocational and Advanced Technology (NKFI), the training programs aim to provide young people with the necessary skills to meet industry demands.

The ultimate goal is to train a minimum of 1,000 youths in high-demand vocational skills by 2027, positioning Kogi as a center for technical expertise and innovation.

During the graduation ceremony held at the Mohammed Buhari Civic Center, Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce to drive the state’s economic growth.

He emphasized that a state with a pool of highly skilled technical personnel is well-positioned for industrial advancement.

The first cohort of 250 participants, drawn from the 21 local government areas, underwent training in nine specialized fields, including automotive mechatronics, welding and fabrication, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion, networking and system security, software development, solar power installation, cinematography and photography, plumbing, and fittings.

Governor Ododo also highlighted a notable success of the program, which is the immediate employability of its graduates, pointing g out that some trainees in welding and fabrication have already secured employment opportunities.

The Governor emphasized that the initiative to fast-track graduates to support government projects not only reduces government expenditure but also empowers local talent, ensuring that Kogi has the necessary expertise to meet its industrial and infrastructural needs.

Furthermore, Governor Ododo pointed out that the impact of the initiative goes beyond the graduates themselves, estimating that over 5,000 individuals, including the trainees and their dependents, will experience economic empowerment.

He directed all commissioners, heads of parastatals, and agencies to ensure that the graduates are adequately engaged and encouraged to strive for economic empowerment.

The Governor also called on the state revenue service to develop a friendly modality to protect the trainees as they begin their vocational operations in the state.

Governor Ododo expressed confidence in the program’s sustainability, assuring that its success will position Kogi State as a model for vocational education.

He also promised that the trainees will continue to receive high-quality starter packs worth millions of Naira to help them establish their careers.