Foundation Awards N71M Grant for Youth Empowerment in Delta State

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in Niger Delta (PIND) has awarded the sum of N71 Million Naira Grants to nine Companies to train 595 unemployed youths in Delta State on job creation and soft skills development.

The Grants Signing Ceremony which took place at Bon Hyatti Hotel, Effurun, was performed by the Executive Director of PIND, Dr. Dara Akala; Economic Development Manager, James Elekwachi; Operations Manager, Florence Agbejule with the nine Companies who were successful in the selection process.

The successful Partnership Companies include; Amy6015 Global Enterprise, Asteven Rewwable Energy and Efficiency Academy Ltd, Agna Green Integrated Development Young Enterprenuer, Foto Afrik International, Nerd2 Factory Company, Olotu Square, Start Innovation Hub, The Footwear Academy and Azure and Gold respectively.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of PIND, Dr. Dara Akala said the programme will provide disadvantaged young persons in Delta State the opportunity to secure sustainable jobs or start enterprises through market driven technics and soft skill development.

Akala said “I am excited to witness another gathering of similar stakeholders for the award of grants worth over N71 million to nine competitive, hghly selected implementing Partner Organizations to equip 595 youths in Delta State with market relevant skills for work and job creation by providing them with innovative led training and support”.

On his part, the Economic Development Manager for PIND foundation, James Elekwachi while stating that programme is focused on four main Sectors of Aquaculture, Construction, ICT and Finished Leather goods, noted that; “The whole idea is to help create jobs and employment for our teeming youths so that at the end of the kind of training/skill acquisition, they can use it to gain employment in organizations while some of them can also decide to go through the inter partnership partway to form their organizations”.

In his Response, Fabian Emmanuel of Azure Gold on behalf of grant recipients and implementing Partner organizations, thanked PIND foundation for the opportunity given them as Partners in enhancing the employability of Delta State through skills training, saying that many youths would be taken out of unemployment by gaining means of livelihood through this PIND programme.