The graduands with Gov Ishaku

Gov. Ishaku addressing the graduands

Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba state has reiterated his commitment to ensuring that more youths and women are trained in the state in different skills.

Darius Ishaku said this yesterday when he received 51 graduands who recently graduated from Peter Akinola Foundation, a youth center for industrial training in Ogun state.

The Governor who was visibly happy stated that what started like a dream is today a reality and told the graduands that they would be provided with starter pack kits in order to kick the ball rolling by putting into use what they have learnt from the Peter Akinola Foundation and make themselves better people in the society.

He also informed them that, those that the state government will need their services will be employed by Taraba and those that will be self-employed, conducive working environment would be provided for them so as to also train others in the skills they have learnt.

The state Governor further revealed that another set will immediately be to the foundation for training, stressing that his desire for Taraba state is to engage the youths productively and bring to an end youth restivenes and idleness.

Darius Ishaku expressed optimism that enterpreneurship would soon flourish in the state and encouraged them to make better use of this rare opportunity and be employers of labour and not job seekers, averring that the essence of acquiring skills is to be self reliant and independent.

The Governor praised the graduands for exhibiting high sense of responsibility by representing Taraba state well during the period of their training, urging them to translate the positive attitudes displayed to the entire state.

Presenting the Peter Akinola Foundation graduands to the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, Johannes Jigem said about 57 women and youths were sent to Peter Akinola Foundation for skills acquisition training and out of the number 51 have successfully completed their training and are ready to storm the state with the trades they have learnt.

Johannes Jigems said the graduands left the state in February this year and completed their training in October, covering the period of nine months.

Breaking down numbers according to their training, the Commissioner said 12 were trained in Catering and Tourism, 13 in Information and Communication Technology ICT, 12 in Fashion and Design and five trained in Tiling and Concreting.

While, four were trained in Electrical Installation, three in Metal Fabrication/Aluminium and two were trained in Auto Mechanics.

Johannes Jigems further informed Governor Darius Ishaku that 13 out of the 51 graduands have been selected to write London City and Guild which will qualify them to seek for job in any part of the world and it will further enrich their CVs .

He told the Governor that sending Taraba indigenes to Peter Akinola Foundation for training has challenged the Ogun government that barely knew the existence of the Foundation and has equally sent in about 100 citizens of the state to also train in the Foundation.

Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Dauda Attah who is the leader and spokesman of the graduands thanked the Governor for selecting them across the state to be trained in various skills acquisition programmes and said they proved themselves worthy and represented the people of Taraba state well.

Dauda lauded the good gesture of the state Government Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku and said they are appreciative of the support they received throughout the period of the training, stressing that it demostrates the love he habours for women and youths in the state and asserted that the Rescue Mission is indeed working.

The leader of the the graduands who described Governor Ishaku as a visionary leader and a true rescue captain, said that, during the period of the training they performed creditably well in various fields and came out with excellent results and are now professionals in their various fields of training and specialisations.

Dauda Attah informed the Governor that at the end of the training they obtained the following certificates: International Certificate from German Cooperation, Center for Capacity Building and Enterprises Development CCBED, National Certificate from Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Trade Test 3,2 and 1 and National Business and Technical Examination Board NABTEB which will be out by next year.

He thanked the Governor for his magnanimity and assured him that they are ready to put to use the skills acquired and used the opportunity to solicit for working tools from the state Government for them to commence displaying their skills and talents immediately.

Dauda equally appreciated the contribution of the Hope Afresh Foundation for working in partnership with the Rescue Mission to give meaning to their lives and called on well meaning Tarabans to emulate the likes of Peter Akinola by establishing similar Foundation in the state that would be used to train more Tarabans, particularly women and youths and tndeed the less previlege in the society.