The Coalition of South South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (COSSCCIMA) has commended Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on the training and empowerment of 2,850 participants via the Diri Skills Acquisition Programme.
According to COSSCCIMA President, Hon. Indutimi Komonibo, “Governor Diri has done well for initiating the Programme which I believe will have a far-reaching impact on the participants and their economic viability.
Komonibo gave the commendation on Thursday via a statement sent to journalists in Yenagoa.
He said the skills acquisition programme would significantly help to address unemployment in Bayelsa as the 2,850 participants have been empowered to go into entrepreneurship.
He however urged the beneficiaries to use the starter packs for the purpose for which they were given and not sell them which he said is common with programmes like this.
He added that selling the starter packs defeats the very good intention and effort of the state government to encourage entrepreneurship amongst the people.
The COSSCCIMA President further called on all Local Government Areas in the state to also replicate the initiative to empower the people at the grassroots.
“I am equally calling on other State Governors of the South-South region that have not embraced the programne to do so to create self-reliance and employment opportunities in the region.
“The only way to empower the people to be self-reliant is through skills acquisition programmes and he is happy that the Diri-led government is already doing so,” he said.