Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that the state government will focus on technical education to develop relevant skills of youths in the second tenure of his administration.
The governor who disclosed this yesterday during a courtesy visit by members of the study group of the National Defense College, Course 21 to Government House, Benin City, maintained that technical colleges will be resuscitated and built across the state.
“From November 12, we will focus on technical colleges in Edo State because too many people are working without relevant skills. We are returning back to the days people sit for trade test to acquire skills to become technicians, mechanics, furniture makers and other trades,” he noted.
He disclosed that the state government has been involved in youth employment schemes to make them useful to themselves through the acquisition of skills in Information Communication Technology, ICT and employment of over 5000 persons in public works, and the Neighborhood Watch to make them busy where they reside.
While noting that the limiting factor will be the resources, Comrad Oshiomhole urged the Federal Government to channel to the states more resources for development.
According to him,” the Federal Government is suffering from dis-economy of scale, as too much money at Abuja leads to more leakages, while the states and local governments lack the money to generate jobs and provide the needed infrastructures for the people.”
The governor therefore advocated for a review of the revenue formula, stressing that the Federal Government takes more than it needs.
Comrade Oshiomhole commended the activities of the National Defense College which according to him, include frank and dispassionate discussions on national issues.
Earlier, team leader of the Study Group, National Defense College, Brig. Gen Samuel Gbenga Ladipo said they are in Edo State to proffer policies and recommendation that border on youth empowerment and internal security of the state.
“We are here to look amongst others at the social reality of the state and efforts of the state government on youth employment and at the end there will be a presentation of the report in Abuja”, he added.
While commiserating with the people and government of Edo State on the recent flooding, Brig. Gen Ladipo commended the effort of the governor in ameliorating the plight of the people and congratulated him on his victory at the poll saying that, “this is a further call to duty not only to Edo people alone but to humanity”.
