Amnesty boss says will activate all vocational centres before mandate ends
By Emmanuel Afonne
The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Maj.- Gen. Barry Ndiomu, says he will complete and activate all vocational training centres across the Niger-Delta region before the end of his mandate.
Ndiomu made this pledge in an interview with newsmen in his office on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that activating the vocational training centres would help the Amnesty Programme reach its full potential and ensure sustainability of livelihoods of beneficiaries.
Ndiomu, who insisted that the programme had served its purpose, said that the training centres had yet to reach their full potential because of non-completion.
“If we are able to complete these centre, we can now domicile training of restive youths in the region.
“One of the things I have been doing since I came on board is to source for funds to complete these projects,” he said.
The interim administrator lamented the long-standing complaint by International Oil Companies (IOCs) that youths in the region lacked requisite industry skills for employment, a narrative, PAP was working hard to change.
Ndiomu charged state governments in the region to complement the efforts of PAP and other interventionist agencies like the NDDC and NCDMB in the region, in creating opportunities for young people.
Ndiomu reiterated that as at the time of disarment in Niger-Delta, not all armed groups agreed to lay down their arms, but that PAP was “soley” set up to cater for those who embraced Amnesty.
He added that the PAP Cooperative Fund, unlike other similar initiatives in the past, was strategically established to drive sustainability of livelihoods, and had been carefully handed over to professional consultants to guide and mentor beneficiaries.
This, Ndiomu said was to ensure success of the programme. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
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