The job creation model of the Okowa administration has been adopted as a veritable strategy for tackling the increasing rate of unemployment in the country and other parts of the world.
A PDP chieftain in the state, Dr Henry Ofa, who stated this in a chat with gallantreporters in Asaba, said global bodies, including the World Bank, a joint sponsor of the Delta State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) had acknowledged the credibility of the job creation programme, which had taken over three thousand youths off the street through training and empowerment in agricultural and other enterprises.
Dr Ofa, a member of the State Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) noted that the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP), the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP) and the Delta Micro Credit Programme were all intended by the Okowa administration to leap beyond the status quo by doing things in uniquely different ways and had become models for other states to adopt.
The Oghara-born politician said the state government, through the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, made available over 220,000 improved oil palm seedlings to 250,000 to cultivate 500 hectares of land, which created over 400 direct and indirect jobs in 2016 alone
He stated that five mini oil mills were fabricated and distributed to different parts of the state, while oil palm nurseries were established in Oleh, Isoko south and Arhagba Okpe in Okpe local government area where 500,000 oil palm seedlings were being raised in each of the nurseries, with another 100,000 seedlings being raised at Ejeme Unor, in Aniocha south local government area of the state.
Dr Ofa said the Okowa administration had approved the sum of N195m to strengthen the Small Holder Oil Palm Scheme, with a view to raising 400,000 improved oil palm seedlings, as well as assisting 350 farmers to cultivate 700 hectares of oil palm farm land.
He pointed out that in demonstration of its desire to sustain the tempo of agricultural development in the state, the Pkowa administration approved the sum of N35.8m for the reactivation of the Delta Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (DARDA) at Ibusa and trained a total of 95 extension agents and block supervisors to provide and disseminate information on modern farming techniques to farmers in the state
The politician said 71 motorcycles were also procured to strengthen agricultural extension services, all in a bid to boost food production and guarantee food security in the state.
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