Yenagoa—Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has charged graduates of technical colleges in the state not to sell starter packs provided by the government in order for them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs.
Diri gave the charge on Tuesday in Yenagoa when he presented business start-up items to 400 graduates of the state-owned technical colleges.
He also directed Gentle Emelah, Commissioner of Education to monitor the beneficiaries in order to achieve the goals for which the science and technical colleges were set up.
Diri in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, described the graduates as torch bearers of his administration.
He stated that they form the critical mass of skilled manpower in the state and should take charge of the local economy.
His words, “As we are giving out these starter packs, please do not go and sell them.
“If you sell them, you will be selling the seed that has been planted in your life. You are expected to nurture that seed and watch it grow up and bear fruits. It is the fruits you will harvest.”
Diri who expressed concern that indigenes of the state do not control the local economy, said his administration was poised to change that narrative by equipping young Bayelsans with the necessary skills in various fields.
“there is a general shift from certification education across the world towards science and technical education. Such persons in the latter category are the ones that are becoming millionaires and billionaires.
“You are the torch bearers of enterpreneurship in Bayelsa State. With the skills you have acquired, you are no longer going to seek for jobs. Rather than become employees, you are now going to be employers of labour,” he said.
The Governor also urged the graduates to be the mouthpiece of the administration and defend its policies and programmes.
According to him, the government will complete and equip all the technical colleges in the state.
“We want to change that mindset of people depending on handouts from politicians. In the world today, most of those doing well are the young people.
“We want to see the young people of Bayelsa change our state for us. So make a positive and good use of the starter packs.”
Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, in his speech, revealed that the starter packs consist of a complete set of tools to start out a business for each beneficiary in eleven different trade areas.
The skills include, catering, plumbing, dress making, marine diesel/petrol mechanics, building technology/draughtsmanship and electrical installations.
Others are computer/book keeping, welding and fabrication, hairdressing, motor vehicle mechanics and mechanical engineering.
