The third batch of youths undergoing the Skills Acquisition programme in Akwa Ibom State, sponsored by Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL), a subsidiary of TOTAL, recently completed the programme. They youths were on 21-Oct-2005 presented with starter packs with which to start their businesses.

The 127 beneficiaries were trained in five vocations: catering, photography/video coverage, computer operation, GSM repairs and hair dressing.

The handing-over ceremony was held at the main auditorium of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Uyo. Among those who witnessed the event are Dr. Emmanuel Nse Akpan, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, who represented the Commissioner and Mr. Effiong Etuk who represented the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare commended EPNL's drive towards human development in the Niger Delta in general and Akwa Ibom State in particular. She reiterated the need for hard work and dedication on the part of the beneficiaries and charged the trainees to give good account of themselves as future trainers and employers of labour.

Dr. Nse Akpan in his address recognised that this scheme is contributing towards reducing youth restiveness in the Niger Delta. He prayed the partnership between the Akwa Ibom State government and EPNL will continue to encourage skills acquisition and educational development programmes in the state.

Responding, Mr. Lawrence Isung, the Manager, Capacity Development, said that the propelling force behind the skills acquisition programme is the company's commitment to initiate human development programmes aimed at alleviating poverty in its host communities. He encouraged the trainees to make optimal use of the opportunities given to them by contributing to the development of their communities through hard work and training of others.

The starter packs handed over to the trainees were according to the requirements of their different vocations. The computer operators were given Pentium 4 computer systems with 2.4GHz processing speed pre-installed with Microsoft office packages, with keyboards, mouse and 15" CRT monitors. Their packs also included HP scanners, 650VA UPS, HP DeskJet colour printers, binding machines, computer tables and chairs. The trainees who studied photography/video coverage were given video and photo cameras with stand and all the accessories. Trainee hair dressers were set up with standing dryers, 2 electric heaters each, curling tongs, heating plate, sterilizing kits, and other requisite tools of the trade. GSM repair trainees are set to go with Pentium 4 computers with 2.26GHz processing speed, 15" monitors, precision tools, digital meter, aural sonic and software (universal box). The trained caterers were each given a deep freezer, gas cooker with grill and 2 filled gas cylinders, a blender/mixer, sets of pots, frying pan, cutlery and drinking glasses, 2 food coolers, tables and chairs.