Adopt YEP model to create jobs, PIND urges Niger Delta states

• Delta govt warns youths against drug abuse
Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has urged state governments in the Niger Delta region to adopt the Youth Employment Pathways (YEP) model to address youth unemployment.

PIND’s Programme Director, Dr. Effiong Essien, gave the charge during a grant signing ceremony for the second year of the YEP project in Delta State.

About 12 implementing organisations signed grant agreements to train 785 youths in technical and soft skills in agriculture, ICT, construction and others.

Effiong said: “At PIND, we have a unique approach towards training the youth on entrepreneurship. We strengthen the ecosystem of skills development actors, demand-driven technical and vocational training, labour market analysis for job opportunities and enterprise development.

“We also focus on investment initiatives in innovative and qualitative training that prepare youths with market-relevant skills and support and transition into wage employment or entrepreneurship.”

Also, PIND’s Executive Director, Dr. Tunji Idowu, affirmed that the YEP model was one of the region’s best secrets.

He said it was effective and provided relevant skills.

IN another development, Delta State Government has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths in the country.

Director-General of Drug Control Committee, Mrs. Helen Orie, who stated this, yesterday, during an awareness campaign tour against drug abuse at Ochele Community, Umuezei Quarters by Allen in Asaba, the State capital, said many youths had wasted their destiny via drug abuse.

She noted that those that are abusing drugs are supposed future leaders, and called on governments and other stakeholders to curb the trend.

Also speaking, Chris Owoeye, who listed alcohol, cigarettes and others as good examples of drug abuse, urged youths to avoid them forthwith.

In his response, the Obi of Ochele Community, Obi-Honourable Chima Okonta, said that the awareness campaign against drug abuse was a good move by the state government, and therefore appealed to the commission to look beyond the streets in fighting to curb the menace.

He also urged the government to sensitise the people by way of doing what they preach to enable both state and federal governments achieve their goal of curbing the society of illicit and abuse of drugs, which usually lead to all manners of crime bedeviling our society today.