The Esan Central Local Government Area in Edo State has pledged its support for a vocational skills development programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment and promoting self-reliance. The programme, organised by the Centre for Moral Value and Justice in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry for Public Safety and Security, will provide vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to youths across five local government areas in Esan land. This initiative seeks to equip youths with practical and income-generating skills to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The Executive Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area, Hon. Prince Abdullahi Momodu, emphasised that economic empowerment is essential to building safer, more productive, and resilient communities. He noted that youths equipped with relevant skills would be better positioned to earn a living, establish businesses, and contribute to local economic development. Momodu assured that his administration would work closely with the organisers to ensure that a significant number of youths from Esan Central benefit from the programme.
The programme is scheduled to be officially flagged off on October 6, 2026, at the Esan West Local Government Secretariat. Following the flag-off ceremony, the training will be decentralised across Esan West, Esan South-East, Esan North-East, Esan Central, and Igueben local government areas to ensure wider access and participation. This will enable more youths to participate in the programme and acquire vocational skills.
The training will be facilitated by the Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen, an organisation affiliated with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). The facilitators will provide expertise in various vocational skills, enabling participants to acquire practical skills and knowledge. This partnership ensures that the training is of high quality and relevant to the needs of the youths.
Comrade Inegbenehi Sylvester is the convener of the initiative, while Hon. Chris Okojie serves as co-convener. The programme aims to provide vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to youths, helping them to become self-reliant and economically productive. By empowering youths with practical skills, the programme seeks to reduce their vulnerability to criminal activities and promote safer communities.
Momodu stressed that vocational education remained an important pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, and economic self-reliance. He said that empowering youths with practical skills is critical to making them economically productive and reducing their vulnerability to criminal activities. The Esan Central Local Government Area will mobilise youths and facilitate broad participation in the programme.
The partnership between the Esan council, Edo ministry, and the group demonstrates a collaborative effort to address youth unemployment and promote self-reliance in Esan land. The programme is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of youths in the area, enabling them to acquire vocational skills and become economically productive. The initiative will contribute to building safer, more productive, and resilient communities in Esan land.
Key points
- The programme will provide vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to youths across five local government areas in Esan land.
- The training will be facilitated by the Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen.
- The programme aims to empower youths with practical skills to reduce their vulnerability to criminal activities and promote self-reliance.
