The federal government has flagged off the training of 2,500 youths from the South-south geopolitical zone on modern day fishing, using trawlers.
The program which was launched in Abuja, was organized by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Professor Charles Dokubo in partnership with Messers Concept Amadeus Limited.
Speaking during the launch, Dokubo said the training was part of the efforts of the federal government to address the challenges facing the Niger Delta region. He said more than 16,000 persons have been trained from the 30,000 database.
“After training, they will get jobs, become employers, pay taxes and by so doing remove the pressure of conflict.
“The people of the Niger Delta are not lazy, they are hardworking people. They wake up as early as 4:00am for fishing. President Muhammadu Buhari believes that Niger Delta are viable people if they could be trained, hence this training.
With this training, the fear of bombing of pipelines will now go because there is a pathway for them to be engaged,” he said.
Chairman of Concept Amadeus Limited, Prince Patrick Osobase said 2,500 persons will benefit from the training directly and that over one million others will benefit indirectly.
For a start, he said 100 small vessels would be provided and that fish processing centers would be established. He said at the end of the three months training, the participants would be issued with European Union (EU) certificate in fishing.
He said the training would be conducted in Nigeria by TEI of Western Greece, a Greek university specializing in fisheries and aquaculture technology. In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to addressing the challenges facing the Niger Delta and other parts of the country.
-Daily Trust