42 Libyan returnees get empowered by Edo state government, UNDP
- The Edo state government and the UN Development Programme organised an entrepreneurship training for 42 Libyan returnees
- One of the returnees who recently concluded the training expressed his appreciation to the UNDP and the state government for impacting in his life
- The state governor, Obaseki, commended the UNDP for the support and partnership as well as commitment towards the programme in the state
Forty two Libyan returnees and other other youths in Edo state have concluded an entrepreneurship training that was organised by the state government and the UNDP, NAN reports.
Legit.ng notes that the country director of UNDP, Samuel Bwalya, represented by an official, Robert Asogwa, said that the UN agency was committed to bringing to an end to human trafficking and illegal migration in the state.
He said that UNDP initiated the training to help the state deal with the current challenges of human trafficking and illegal migration by empowering the youth.
Bwalya commended Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo for empowering the youth in the state, stressing that the governor was very passionate about the programme and has demonstrated it. According to him, UNDP prioritised youth empowerment because it was very key to addressing all social vices, whether it is militancy, youth restiveness, or illegal migration.
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He said: “You know that most of the countries that are successful today have their successes linked to entrepreneurship, whether it is China, India or elsewhere. At UNDP we have partnership with governments to have robust programme on empowerment on innovation, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and sustainable finance programmes.
“Entrepreneur is key even if you don’t get employment you can start your own business and employ others in the next one or two years.
“We want to create more young entrepreneurs in order to address the insurgency and to stem the youth restiveness. I am sure if we are able to have massive number of youth entrepreneurs we will be able to destroy the business of traffickers, illegal migration."
Earlier, Obaseki who was represented by his chief of staff, Taiwo Akinrele, commended the UNDP for the support and partnership as well as commitment towards the programme in the state.
He said: “The Edo government is committed to skill acquisition particularly to build the capacity of its citizen to take the advantage of the business and new investment in the state We are not discouraging migration but you need to migrate legally which could only be done when you have skill and capacity. We are going to scale up this intervention for others to partake in the programme. We are still going to set up monitoring scheme to help you further."
One of the trainees, Paul Oshamodiamen, thanked the UNDP and Edo government for organising the training which he said had changed his orientation and focus.
The 49 year old father of six said that the training would help him to establish a viable business that would make him live happily rather than embarking on dangerous journey again to Libya.
He said: “I want to say a very big thank you to the UNDP because they remember us to put together the training to help us stabilise in our business. They have actually created an impact and added value to my life."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state approved the release of 150 hectares of land and N100 million seed capital for the 150 Libyan returnees and victims of human trafficking.
It was reported that the money and land were given to those who completed a skills acquisition training at the Edo Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) office in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
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Source: Legit.ng
