Fifty ex–militants from the Niger Delta have enrolled for a skill acquisition and entrepreneurship training at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.
They will be trained at the institution’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, FUTA’s Principal Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, said in a statement on Monday.
The centre’s Director, Dr. Ayo Olajuyigbe, described the training initiative as relevant to the development of not only the Niger Delta but also the country.
He said, “FUTA, through the centre, entered into an agreement with the Presidential Amnesty Office to train 50 ex-agitators from the Niger Delta for a period of nine months in welding/metal fabrication. The training also involves mindset change component and classes in entrepreneurship development that will encourage job creation and value re-orientation.
Olajuyigbe added that the centre had established links with government agencies such as the Industrial Training Fund, the National Directorate of Employment and the Bank of Industry for the commencement of the programme.
He said, “The partnership is to ensure that trainees are adequately exposed to available emerging business opportunities.”
The Deputy VC (Academic), Prof. Adedayo Fasakin, is also quoted as hailing the Amnesty Office for choosing the centre.
He added, “It is no longer news that many ex-agitators were repatriated from their training bases overseas and reprimanded for poor conduct during their training programmes.
“In that regard, I urge each of them to be open to the centre’s technical, structural and cultural training process.
“The new skill they will acquire and the entrepreneurship component will give them a new lease of life and position them to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.”
