…As Imasuanbon boosts youth skill acquisition scheme with N1m
…canvases support for Obaseki’s empowerment program
By Okhide Em’ya David
Iyase of Benin Kingdom Benin, Chief Sam Igbe and founder, Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative (CEDDI) and Skills Acquisition Centre and Diabetic Care Clinic, has implored Nigerian youths to embrace skills acquisition and technical training to be self-dependent so as to help address gross unemployment problem in the country.
Chief Igbe made the call in Benin City recently, while addressing graduands, relatives and guests at the 9th graduation ceremony for interns of the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative.
Outstanding interns received fully equipped shops with a whole year rent paid by the Foundation as startups for their careers, while others who came second and third positions got working tools including brand new sewing machines, hair drier machines, giant ovens, amongst others.
In this year’s graduation ceremony, over ten of such best graduates including: Edegbe Loveth (catering); Owen Aigbokhaivbo (hair styling); Ametoro Pius (barbing) and Abia Goodness (barbing), were all awarded fully equipped shops with one year rent paid.
Iyase of Benin traced the birth of CEDDI to efforts to provide gainful employment for teeming youths who daily throng his residence asking to be assisted to get viable means of livelihood.
He said as soon as CEDDI’s Executive Director, Mr. Lawrence Omoregie finalized the paper works and logistics, kind hearted Nigerians keyed into the vision and have supported it till date.
The Iyase remarked that what gives him better fulfillment is that any time he inspects the graduates of the Centre he is often overwhelmed with the resounding successes they have recorded within the short time they were empowered to venture into their various business interests.
Chief Igbe asked the graduating youths to remain good ambassadors to CEDDI by continuously striving to do well in their different industries and appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts to procure better future for the Nation’s youths.
Chief Igbe expressed gladness that the human capital development Centre has come to stay, having conquered all odds to remain steadfastly strong to survive the harsh socio-economic environment in Nigeria.
He commended the Chief responsibility officer of the Initiative, Architect Nosasu O. Edigin and Executive Director of CEDDI Mr. Lawrence Omoregie for their resilience in the fight to boost the wealth of the Nation through skills acquisition by youths who are daily becoming self-employed after training from the institution.
The Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Ken Immasuangbon said he urgently needed to join other well-meaning Nigerians in the struggle to keep the youths off the streets and engage them in profitable ventures as he donated one million naira, (N1, 000,000) to the skills acquisition scheme.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial Candidate in Edo State said: “The situation of unemployment in this country and around the world is worrisome; therefore any initiative to keep our people off the streets should ordinarily be supported by well-meaning individuals.”
He said he was informed that CEDDI & Diabetic Care Clinic started as an itinerant concept where healthcare and vocational skills, such as Cosmetology, Catering, Beauty care etc. are brought to the doorsteps of people who are among the not-so-privileged.
Imasuangbon said he purely sees “CEDDI as direct response to the pervading problem of poverty, hunger, joblessness and sickness among the people.
“This initiative has grown since the last nine years with several landmark achievements and expenditure running to over N500 million.”
Imasuangbon said he was very proud of the Iyase of Benin kingdom, Chief Dr. Sam Udiyinwe Igbe and other members of the board, partners and friends of CEDDI “who have kept the dream of this initiative alive.”
“Through this initiative, thousands of our people have been given livelihood skills and empowered to establish their own businesses, as well as the Diabetic Clinic which is the first of its kind in the country.”
“This private initiative, I must say, is also in line with the desire of His Excellency, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, in ensuring that the youths of the state are engaged in productive ventures by provision of skills and vocational centres in the state.
“I want to encourage our graduands to take advantage of these opportunities provided by CEDDI to better their lives. After one year of training, today is the day many of you have been looking forward to and I am sure you will not be disappointed.
“I must thank the Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, for creating this enabling environment for this initiative to strive. I want to call on other Edo State stakeholders to take a cue from this initiative from our Governor Godwin Obaseki and our father, Chief Sam Igbe.”
On his part, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun showered encomiums on Chief Sam Igbe for his selfless investment in youth development, noting that while some have sustainably held the society to ransom through their notorious conducts those graduates and others have seized every opportunity to develop themselves.
Onobun said the State House of Assembly under his leadership will partner with initiatives, such as CEDDI in line with the vision of the Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to create employments and wealth amongst the People.
Representative of the Minister of Health (Dr. Osagie Ehanire), Dr. S.A. A. Okpaise and that of the Minister of state for Budget and National Planning (Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed), Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, both assured of adequate support of the Ministers whom they said also want more youths to embrace acquisition of technical knowhow to be able to function properly in the new digital age.
One of the graduating Interns, Osaghae Edith described the Iyase of Benin, as a “Priest of hope for the teeming youths who lack the wherewithal to acquire basic skills to earn decent living” and prayed God Almighty to grant him more years on Earth.
Other Dignitaries at the event, were the Chief Justice of Edo State, Hon. Justice Esther Amenaghawon Edigin and her a husband, Elder Martins Edigin, the Onojie of Urohi, Zaiki Dominic Uwuigbowen Otokhinen I and the Oliha of Benin Kingdom, Chief Edionwe Oliha.
Uwayoba of Benin, Chief Solomon Ogbewe, Former Commissioner for Education in Edo State ,and Chairman Esan South East Local Government Area, Hon Sylvester Ewanehi Retired Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Usen also graced the graduation ceremony.
