The Government of Bayelsa State has sent 250 youths from the state in a bid to patronize the academy established by the former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, one of President Jonathan’s supporters for his re-election bid in 2015 polls.
The scheme was announced in Yenegoa at a reception for 200 Bayelsa graduates of a six-month agricultural training programme at the Songhai Integrated System, Cotonou.
The training programme on automobile technology, cinematography, photography and design will be held at the Amachree Royal Academy, Benin Republic, which is owned by the ex-militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.
The 250 trainees would depart for Benin Republic on December 1, 2013. The cost of the project was not disclosed.
At the reception, which also doubled as a send-off orientation for the 250 youths going for the vocational training, Gov. Seriake Dickson declared his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, and charged them to take their training seriously.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Thomas Commander, congratulated the graduates for the successful completion of the programme in spite of some challenges.
He expressed the state government’s desire to engage some of the graduands, but disclosed that those who intend to be self-reliant, would be encouraged and supported by the government.
It would be recalled that the ex-militant leader, Dokubo, had a brush with the authorities in Benin Republic last week, but was released days later following the intervention of Nigeria leader Goodluck Jonathan.
Source: Sahara Reporters
