Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Total tasks skills acquisition trainees on hardwork, dedication

By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt
27 April 2018   |   4:14 am
The Deputy Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, (TEPENG), Mr. Francois Le-cocq, has tasked over 500 skills acquisition trainees to imbibe the culture of hard work and dedication.

Some of the trainees

The Deputy Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, (TEPENG), Mr. Francois Le-cocq, has tasked over 500 skills acquisition trainees to imbibe the culture of hard work and dedication.

Le-cocq urged the trainees comprising of youths, men and women in communities hosting TEPENG’s facilities in Rivers State to stay focused, noting that it takes hardwork to be successful as there is no shortcuts to the top.

He stated this during the graduation ceremony of the 13th batch trainees under the NNPC/TEPENG Joint venture skills acquisition training programme.

He explained that the programme is an initiative designed to impact practical training in several trades ,with the objective of producing self-employed entrepreneurs within the local economy.

He cautioned the beneficiaries not to abuse the opportunities, but to utilize it and -rewrite the narrative by showing that Rivers people are hardworking and not lazy.

Le-cocq added: ” Creating employment opportunities for young persons in order to reduce poverty and hunger in our communities is in tandem with the desire of the Total Group, to support the socio-economic development of host communities and the United Nations Sustainable Development goals”.

He assured those who will show commitment in growing their skills and businesses the willingness of TEPENG’s Business Development and Enterprise Department to offer access to low- interest finance in partnership with microfinance institutions and also provide linkages to markets for their products and services.

He expressed hope that the move would take their businesses to the next level and improve the economy.

Some of the beneficiaries were trained on plumbing and pipefitting, fillet and structural welding, catering, electrical installation, fashion and designing, computer operation.

Others were trained on fish farming, GMP aluminum work, music, truck driving and excavator among others.

Similarly, the Director, Rivers State Ministry of Youths Development,Mrs. Ijeoma Chinedu has charged the beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity and rewrite the narrative that Rivers Youths are not lazy and violent.

Mrs. Ijeoma Chinedu urged the youths to work hard to enable them have a place in the global economy.

She said, the State government under the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike is changing the narrative about Rivers youths who people believed to be lazy, militants and criminals.

She said, the present administration through its support in various skills acquisition programmes is changing the narrative.

“This administration will ensure that Rivers Youths are placed on global economy and compete favourably with other youths in the world,” she said.

She commended TEPENG for the gesture, adding that the state and the firm would begin a conversation that will take the people to the next level.

She urged the youths to step up in their ideas and businesses.

0 Comments