Aisha Buhari, wife of the President, has hailed founder of the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) Dame Judith Amaechi for her laudable works.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, also stated Nigerians are extremely resourceful and creative, stressing all citizens have roles to play to ensure a better Nigeria.
The President’s wife, Mohammed and other eminent personalities spoke yesterday at the 6th graduation of 100 beneficiaries of ESI/Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Entrepreneurial and Skills’ Acquisition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The theme of the event was: “Home finishing skills: a pathway to empowerment and sustainable livelihood.”
The graduation for youths drawn from the nine states of the Niger Delta, attracted Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; his Niger Delta Affairs counterpart Pastor Usani Usani and Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of ESI.
Others were Managing Director of NDDC, Nsima Ekere; Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Giadom and a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam.
Mrs. Buhari, who was represented by wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Yakubu-Dogara, urged youths, especially those of the Niger Delta, to remain focused and to continually contribute to societal development.
Mrs. Yakubu-Dogara said: “The wife of the President is proud of you (Dame Judith) for all the laudable works you are doing.
“Madam, you had a dream and you pursued it, you followed it and it has come to fruition. All Nigerian women are proud of you.”
Mohammed, in his keynote address, urged the graduands to take advantage of the life-changing opportunities to secure a better life for themselves and their families as well as employ others.
He noted that the ESI was complementing the efforts of the government to empower Nigerians, particularly the youths, women and children.
Mohammed said: “Jobs are not created only when you advertise, neither are jobs created when it is white collar jobs.
“Before this government came in, the nation had 5 million of rice growers. Today, we have 12.2 million rice growers.
“So, that is an extra of more than 7 million jobs in the agric sector alone. This is not fiction, but facts and this was collaborated by the chairman of the Rice Growers Association a few days ago.
“Not only government create jobs. Every individual and NGO should help to create new jobs.””
Ekere described the graduation as a great milestone to transform the Niger Delta, stressing NDDC was re-writing the history of the Niger Delta through massive infrastructural development and empowerment of the people.
He noted that the partnership between NDDC and ESI showed what could be achieved while working together with the energies of the youths to be directed to productive ventures.
Peterside stated that giving youths handouts would not be sustainable, pointing out giving the young ones qualitative education and skills would ensure a brighter future.
He assured the NGO would continue to make Niger Deltans and other Nigerians proud.
Mrs. Amaechi added since 2008 when ESI started, it had provided various training programmes in vocational skills and entrepreneurial development, including capacity building to over 3,000 beneficiaries.