Ochor Inspects Skill Acquisition Centre at Umutu to Ascertain Its Readiness for Commissioning by Governor Okowa

Baring any last minute change of plan, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa will in the next few weeks commission one of the state Skill Acquisition Centres, located in Umutu Community, Ukwuani Local Government Area, which was awarded during the tenure of Chief James Ibori, and over the years had been left uncompleted until his government decided to complete the project in line with its SMART Agenda program.

The possibility of this was made known to reporters by the Executive Director, Social Services Development, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, when he carried out an on the spot inspection of some projects being carried out by the commission, in the area, on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

The Executive Director who during the inspection of the projects, which includes the section B of the deflooding of the Obiaruku Market, the Perimeter fencing of the Emmanuel Uduaghan Civic Centre, in Obiaruku, the Ekpemili Primary School, Obi-Ogene, Ebedei, said that because of the importance the governor has for human capital development, especially for the teeming youths of the state, at assumption of office, directed that the centre be transferred to the commission from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, which was the original executors of the project.

“His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, because of his promises to the people of Ukwuani, and his penchant to impact on the youths in the state, skills that will help them contribute positively to the state economy, directed the commission to take over the job from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports”.

According to Hon Ochor, the centre has a history which spans a period of time. “The centre has a history, which was from the Ministry of Youths and Sports, and that phase has ended, this is another phase.”

While thanking the governor on behalf of the people of the local government, for making provisions to ensure that the project is completed, he said that if completed and commissioned, it will not only be a centre of training for basic skills that will develop human and economic capacity of the area, but will also provide both direct and indirect employment to the people of Umutu and other communities in the area.

“Completion of this centre will not only afford the people of this area the opportunity to acquire the basic knowledge in skills that will help them to leave a better life, but will also provide direct and indirect jobs for the people”

Speaking further, Hon Ochor affirmed the readiness of DESOPADEC to continue the provisions of the necessary solutions that will improve lives of the people of the mandate area, as enshrined in the SMART Agenda of the present government, which they had done since the assumption of the present board.

“The present board met a contract job of about N10 billion, and since our mandate was complete and commission, we had been completing and commissioning many of those jobs we met, and we will continue to do so for the good of the people.” He said.

He said the inspection of the projects were necessary to have first hand information of how work is progressing, as each project embarked by the commission is vital to the social and economic needs of the people.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Ukwuani Market Women Association, Lady Betty Ataghoshi has commended the state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for making funds available to channel away water from the Obiaruku Main Market, which according to her had being a perennial problem to both traders and buyers.

“We thank the governor for the effort to ensure the flooding of the market anytime it rains is addressed. And we thank DESOPADEC for carrying out the instructions of the governor.”

At the Ekpemili Primary School, Obi Ogene, Ebedei, where the commission is carrying out renovation of two blocks of 3 classrooms, and construction of an Administrative block and 6 classrooms,   the Assistant Headmaster, Mrs Ruth Emenike thanked the state government and the commission for rescuing the school from the dilapidated state the school was for years.

“It is a thing of joy to see the school structures looking better. Before now, the children learn under a very terrible situation, when it rains, the entire classrooms will be flooded with water. Coupled with the pilled of floors. But today, the story is different. All thanks to the governor, and DESOPADEC.” She said.

Hon Ochor was accompanied to the inspection by staff of the commission, and some Peoples Democratic Party, PDP leaders in Ukwuani Local Government Area.