The Job and Wealth Creation Bureau of the Delta State government has graduated 1,000 beneficiaries of the training and empowerment programme. The 1,000 beneficiaries of the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2020/2021 Programme were equipped with the basic tools for self-employment.
The Head of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof. Eric Eboh,
at the graduation ceremony which marked the end of the 2020/2021 STEP and YAGEP Cycle, disclosed that the Bureau has developed four tools for sustainability of the project. He said that
some institutional development tools developed by the Bureau are already being applied to guarantee organizational and programme sustainability into the future.
Eboh, at the graduation ceremony of the 1,000 beneficiaries of the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2020/2021 Programme Cycle, highlighted that the first sustainability tool is an online programme management information system (MIS) which has two platforms.
Number one Platform, he explained, is the job creation website [deltastatejobcreation.ng] while Platform two is the Digital Programme Portal, an open-access online platform [deltastatejobcreation.net].
He said that the portal contains key programme information, including databank of 6,074 beneficiaries from inception of the job and wealth creation bureau to date, databank of all trainers, training tools (both manuals and audiovisuals), enterprise starter pack checklist and programme flow chart.
Eboh emphasized that the portal is a One-Stop-Shop of information and knowledge resources for timeless learning and citation. He stated that the portal could be accessed online without any passcode, which underscored the transparency, credibility and integrity of the job creation programmes, in line with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s principle of accountability to the people.
The Job and Wealth Creation Bureau Chief officer mentioned series of Job Creation Magazine published since 2015 as second sustainability tool.
According to Eboh: “This magazine series has accomplished eight editions and the most recent was published in November of last year.
“The magazine series is the primary channel for documentation, dissemination and feedback on activities, progress, achievements and impacts of job creation programmes.”
The Chief Officer of the Bureau disclosed the third sustainability tool is the satellite-based digital survey map of all verified YAGEP farm enterprises throughout the state.
Eboh highlighted: “This digital map is an interactive electronic dashboard which shows the GPS location of verified YAGEP farm enterprise together with details of enterprises including names and contacts of owners and type of enterprise. By this satellite-based digital map, all existing YAGEP farm enterprises can be located, viewed and contacted online from any part of the world.”
He disclosed that the fourth sustainability tool is the Five-Year Masterplan of Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, driven by the legal instrument establishing the Bureau by the Delta State House of Assembly.
Eboh said that the Masterplan would provide the roadmap and signposts for enhancing the relevance, impacts and sustainability of the job creation model into the future.