Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori says technical and vocational skills training for students is the only viable option left to creating job opportunities for youths in the country.
He stated this at the 3rd edition of the Technical Colleges Fair and Exhibition for students in the State Technical Colleges held at Model Technical College, Asaba.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Governor Oborevwori said the State Government established Technical Colleges across the three senatorial districts, to prepare students academically and vocationally for jobs involving applied science and technology.
He said in the era of rising unemployment, vocational training and skills acquisition was the only way to fight economic hardship due to lack of jobs.
“This is perhaps the best time to be students of a technical college especially in these times of economic hardship, no ready-made white or blue collar-jobs.
“You have the advantage of being your own Boss, thereby employing others based on the requisite skills acquired in the course of your education.
“The world is gradually moving beyond just having a formal education as a means of survival. With the increasing levels of unemployment and the dearth of industries to provide employment for the teeming graduates, the young people are being encouraged to learn skills as a means of economic survival.
“It is my hope that the skills acquired here will be adequately utilized to provide for the future that you desire,” he said.
He assured that the State Government remained committed to providing all the students required to be the best through the implementation of the MORE agenda and urged them to persevere to create a better future ahead of them.
Welcoming guests earlier, Commissioner for Technical Education, Hon. Joan Onyemaechi said the event was a celebration of innovation, creativity and the incredible skills of the technical school students.
She said the fair and exhibition aims to provide a platform for assessing and selecting projects that are indigenously outstanding and also to create and develop healthy competition amongst students across schools.
Onyemaechi said there have been increased enrolment of students in the Technical Colleges from 5,739 in 2022/2023 to 8,003 in 2023/2024, adding that arrangements were being worked out for the boarding of students.
Chairman of the occasion and State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije commended immediate past Governor of the State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for revamping Technical Education in the state.
He said the students have the opportunity to have skills in addition to learning and urged them to apply knowledge obtained from the school to better their future.
Chief Newton Jibunor in his keynote speech titled; “Using Technical Schools To Tackle Climate Change”, said the world was struggling in the fight against climate change.
He said all the scientists were people with technical knowledge and urged the students to use their technical skills to fight climate change in the world.
The ceremony featured presentation of awards to Model Technical College Asaba; Ogor Technical College and Sapele Technical College for their performance at the exhibition.