…assure support to build 18 technical colleges

The Governments of Germany and Switzerland have commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his administration’s jobs and youth development initiatives that have continued to create more opportunities for young people in the state.

They committed to supporting the government in building 18 technical colleges across the state.

The Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Weert Barner and the representative of the Swiss Embassy, Mr. Manuel Muhlebach, gave the commendation while inspecting facilities at the Edo State Skills Development Agency, Edojobs centre at the Edo Innovation Hub in Benin City, the state capital.

The inspection visit followed the inauguration of Edojob centres in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area (LGA) and Uzairue, Etsako West LGA of the state, on Monday.

Commending the government for efficiently utilizing available resources to improve the livelihood of residents, the countries pledged to continue to support the state government in the realization of its vision of empowering more citizens to live life to the fullest.

The German Consul General noted, “We have been supporting the state government’s skills development projects since 2018 and will be on for a couple of years.

“We will try to focus more on vocational training because that is the future of the youths here in Edo State, to learn skills and implement the skills in new jobs. That is a good approach and we are happy to be able to support financially with a lot of advice and technological support.

“We have visited Uromi and are very impressed with what we saw on the ground,” he added.

On his part, Muhlebach of the Swiss Embassy said the country will strengthen collaboration with the state government on skills development and employment in rural areas to complement the government’s efforts at reducing unemployment across the state.

He added, “Establishing more job centres across the state will create the needed opportunity for young people in Edo State to acquire skills to be gainfully employed so as to contribute their quota to the development of the society. We will continue to partner with the state in this regard.”

Earlier Governor Obaseki stated, “We have been taking our partners round to show them what we have done with the support we have received from them and also to commission some job centres.

"All our projects are always counterpart funded and due to the success and what we have done with the funding, they will be supporting us in the next stage, which is to build 18 technical colleges across the state. We will get technical support to make sure our students not only get certificates but also get skills by the time they finish technical schools.”