We’re Preparing Youths For Jobs In Ibom Deep Seaport, Others – Akpabio

Akwa Ibom government has said that its “Ibom 3,000 project” is meant to prepare youths with the necessary skills for employment in Hi Tech industrial concerns within and outside the state like the Ibom Deep Seaport.

Speaking to newsmen on the heels of the flag off of the training of 3,000 youths by Governor Udom Emmanuel in Uyo, Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. Ukpong Akpabio said that the scheme was deliberate and meant to identify, train, mentor, empower and build capacity of new and  existing Medium and Small Enterprises, (SMEs) and Start Ups across the state. 

He said the overall goal of the scheme was to train youths to be self-reliant. It is also meat to make them relevant in emerging opportunities in the upcoming Ibom Deep Seaport, the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone and other industrialisation programmes of the state government.

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“The immediate and long term outcome is to lay a solid foundation for the development of SMSEs. This is to compliment the efforts of the state industrialization and it’s potentials for employment generation.” Ibom Deep Seaport

He commended the governor for his foresight and support for the programme. He thanked investors and partners who have continued to stand behind the scheme.

On COVID-19 pandemic, Akpabio said the initial plan was to train 9,000 persons each year for three years. This is even as the ministry was forced to reduce the number of beneficiaries to 3,000 each. This was in order to accommodate COVID-19 protocols.

The commissioner said the state government would cater for the accommodation and feed the trainees. This will span the 2-6 months duration of training. 

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