Two hundred and ninety-nine students have completed their skills acquisition programmes organized under Kogi State Youth Empowerment Scheme in collaboration with Salem University, Lokoja.
The graduation of the second batch brings the total number of trainees to 2,000 who have acquired skills in various fields ranging from paint making, poultry and fish rearing, textile, soap making, furniture, to computer literacy programme.
In an address to the graduants at the state Youth Empowerment Skill Acquisition Centre, Lokoja, Governor Ibrahim Idris disclosed that about N1.5billion had been so far expended on skill acquisition programmes.
He further disclosed that the state government has resolved to assist the new graduants with credit facilities to enable them take –off in their various fields of specialty and promised to absorb the first 10 best students into the civil service.
On his part, Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment and Employment Generation, Comrade Friday Sani disclosed that the centre, which initially took-off five professional courses, had now increased to 16 which the graduants will be issued university certificates at the end of their training programmes.
He expressed optimism that target of training 20,000 youths will be met before the expiration of the present administration.
In his contribution, the Vice-Chancellor of Salem University, Prof. Paul Omaji, who was represented by the Registrar of the institution, Dan Itodo explained that the project was in line with the institution’s goal of promoting knowledge, empowerment and self-reliance to enable people make positive impacts globally.

Teachers Urged to put more Efforts to Work
Teachers in public primary schools in Kogi State have been called upon to be more committed to their work for effective service delivery towards the realization of vision 20:2020.
According to a press statement, signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), State Universal Basic Education Board, Okolo Ignatius and made available to The Graphic the Executive chairman of Kogi SUBEB, Hon. Stan Okala made the call during the opening ceremony of a three-day capacity building workshop organized to equip public primary school teachers/administrators for effective. According to Hon Stan Okala, who was represented by the Director, Administration and Supplies of the state SUBEB, Mr. Emman Daikwo, teachers are the most important segment in the implementation of the UBE programme hence, the decision of the Board to accord priority attention to training and retraining to improve their performance.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the North Central Coordinator of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Lokoja, Mr. Peter Salihu appealed to the teachers to use the opportunity provided through the workshop in updating their skills and knowledge
In his address, the coordinator of the workshop, Mr. Paul Odiba, said that the training will assist participants to achieve a mastery of the newly introduced curricular concept.