The Executive Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State, Hon. Kevin Okwechime, has commenced the construction of an ultra modern skills acquisition centre for the youths of the local government area.
The Centre is located at the premises of the Local Government Council at Issele-Uku, the administrative headquarters of the local Government Area.
Speaking with Journalists at the project site on Tuesday, October 26th, Hon. Okwechime said that his administration embarked on the project in consonance with his campaign promise to the youths of the local government area.
He said that his administration is set to empower the youths through skills acquisition, noting that the Aniocha North Comprehensive Skills Acquisition Centre, when completed, will help in training and empowering over 500 youths in various Skills annually.
“The best way to go as a Government is to empower our teaming youths. That is why we have keyed into the youth empowerment programmes of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Empowerment Master.
“And if you will recall, during my campaign, I did promised to empower the youths and what you are seeing today is my administration’s resolved to keep to that promise through this center”, Hon. Okwechime stated.
He revealed that the centre will have various departments that will include; catering, carpentry/furnishing, building, mechanical/electrical, foundry, Iron bending, welding, tailoring, barbing and hair salon sections.
He assured that the project being executed through direct labour, will be completed within a period of six months, noting that every material needed for the block work has been procured.
“By our target, we must have roofed in December and we are trusting God for us to complete the project in six Months basically, because of the equipment that will be needed for the center,” the council boss said.
While affirming the project to be an ambitious one, he said that the Local government will not borrow to execute it, but will depend on the little that is accruable to the council’s coffers from the federation and internally generated revenues.
“Even though, we are not borrowing one naira for this project, we will be soliciting the support and assistance of well meaning sons and daughters of our dear local government area, friends and well wishers, for the early completion and equipping of the centre because of its importance and comprehensive nature and benefit for our youths,” Hon Okwechime noted.
Construction workers were seen excavating the soil for the foundation of the project with massive trips of sharp sand, gravel, granite, iron rods and over 1000 pieces of blocks already on ground for the project.