18 September 2012, Sweetcrude, WARRI –SHELL Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has trained 45 youths drawn from eight host communities in Delta State in different skill acquisition programmes, including computer technology, electrical installation, welding, and hotel and catering.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the youths in Warri, SPDC’s Media Relations Officer, Joseph Obari, said it was a 15-month skill development-training and business programme to tackle youth unemployment in the host communities and urged the graduates to make appropriate use of the knowledge they acquired to better their lives.
Participants in the scheme, tagged ‘’Southern Swamp Aggregated Gas, SSGA, youth training and enterprise development programme were reportedly shortlisted through a successful selection test exercise from Ojobo, Obotobo 1 and 2, Odimodi, Ogulagha, Sokebolou, Yokri and Yobebe communities.
General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Philip Mshelbila, in a speech delivered by the Community Relation Officer, Major Projects, Dele Aiskhalaye, said investigation had shown that large number of the youth do not establish business after acquiring the prerequisite skills through the programme.
He lamented that they “dispose the starter pack items and spend all the funds made available upon graduation on lesser interests” and urged parents and guardians to encourage the youth to desist from squandering the opportunity.
Director of Training, National Directorate of Employment, Asaba, Andrew Erue, extolled the virtues of the graduates, saying “since I have been training people, this set has been the best”.
