Delta okays nine new colleges, youth development ministry, others

The Delta State Government has approved nine new technical colleges for Asaba, Obiaruku, Uvwie, Ika North East and others as first phase of the 19 of such institutions promised the councils without their presence by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa prior to this year’s general elections.

There were other five approvals, including the upgrade of the Directorate of Youths Affairs to a full-fledged ministry, building of befitting residences and offices for the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the Chief of Staff to the Governor among others

The Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, who briefed reporters at the end of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting yesterday in Asaba, said the decisions were taken in line with the Stronger Delta initiative of the Okowa administration. He stated that the governor was poised to getting the teeming youths in the state gainfully engaged, stressing that, “while youths in other states are running round with certificates looking for jobs, our youths are becoming entrepreneurs even before they leave the higher institution.”

He noted that while the “approval awards for the construction of eight new technical schools sailed through in the first phase of the 19 technical colleges that will avail each local government area of such institution, the ninth one to be located in Uvwie Local Government Area is on hold pending when the location for the school has been agreed on.

“The extension of road projects from one year to two years was approved for construction of road projects with five per cent retention fees to the bargain. It is so because we reason that within one year, contractors will be able to within two rainy seasons be able to bring to bear quality delivery of such roads. ”

“This is because there have been complaints about roads not lasting as much as we intended to. At the end of each year, 50 per cent of that five per cent would be paid, the second part of the five per cent will be paid after we are satisfied that you have done a satisfactory job.”