The Federal Government has said it will train Niger Delta youths in agricultural activities so as to empower them and make them more economically productive.

This was made known by the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof. Claudius Daramola, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Daramola said youth empowerment was a key objective of the post amnesty programme of the Federal Government and urged the youths to take advantage of the huge resources available in the region to empower themselves especially in the area of agriculture.

In his words “It is our intention to continue to midwife these skills acquisition programmes to a logical conclusion. However, we shall ensure that the youths are provided with the opportunity to harness their skills for the benefit of the nation,” he said.

NAN reports that since the inception of the ministry, it had trained 4,861 non-militant youths of the region in various skills.

They were trained in oil and gas, agriculture, seafaring, maritime engineering and information and communications technology (ICT), including iPad and telephone assemblage.

Daramola, however, said that the ministry’s skill acquisition centres in the nine oil producing states in the Niger Delta were nearing completion.

“The centres in Akwa Ibom and Delta States will concentrate on oil and gas, ICT and maritime studies.

“The centres in Abia and Imo will train youths in commerce; the one in Cross River is on entertainment and tourism, while the Ondo skills acquisition centre will focus on agriculture,” the minister said.

He assured that the ministry was working towards bringing all the centres on stream this year

Source: Daily Trust