SKILLS ACQUISITION: ATTEC Graduates 186 Trainees . . . Bayelsa Govt Assures Of Continuous Partnership

  by Oyagiri Chime-emele

The AfricanTide Technical Training Education Centre, ATTEC, has graduated about one hundred and eighty six trainees, 186, in different vocations.

The event took place on Thursday, February 8, certifying trainees in the Smart House A to Z Vocational Training Programme, AfricanTide Academy, Kpansia ,Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the event, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, stated that government would continue to partner with the organization to equip Bayelsans with skills.

Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said his administration is making deliberate efforts at giving hands-on skills training to the youths because it believes in the importance of human capital development.

He charged the graduands who trained in Sting, Plumbing, Catering, Quartia, Electrical, CCTV, Alternate Energy, amongst other vocations, not to rest on their oars but be passionate about acquiring more knowledge in their various fields to further improve themselves.

The governor charged them to resist the temptation of selling off their work tools, but rather use them judiciously to generate income for themselves and become employers of labour, if given starter packs.

He commended the German Partners, ATTEC and Gregory University for their contributions towards producing the first set of graduands of the programme and promised to take the partnership a notch higher.

He said: “To Gregory University, you have the blessing of the Governor of our state. So you have to liaise with our partners, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education to see how we can encourage those of them who are willing to go further to move on.

“And to all the graduands, who are receiving certification today, you should know that the skill you have acquired is your seed. If you eat your seed by not putting your skills into work, you will certainly go back to where you were before.

“And if you manage to work for somebody, you remain a labourer. But when you work for yourself, you become a business owner or an entrepreneur. And so, I encourage you to use your seed well by planting it. Don’t sell or eat your seed.”

Delivering the certification charge, the Vice Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu, Prof. Augustine Uwakwe, charged the graduands to effectively demonstrate the expertise they have acquired, and be good ambassadors of Bayelsa and all the institutions that played a role in their training.

The vice chancellor appreciated the state government for keeping faith with the programme and promised that Gregory University would create an enabling opportunity for beneficiaries to study further to obtain a degree in their chosen fields through the University’s Diploma Conversion Programme.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia, expressed delight that the programme which was initiated under Chief Henry Seriake Dickson’s Restoration Government had seen the graduation of 186 trainees.

He stressed that the programme is modelled after Germany’s vocational training system which lays emphasis on practical work experience, stressing that its beneficiaries can work in any part of the world.

Further speaking, the Founder of AfricanTide Association Nigeria, Dr Rosalyn Dressman, urged the trainees not to relent as their journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary.

She further stressed that it was a path with challenges, adorned with hopes, and driven by an unwavering commitment to become better individuals through the power of technical education.

According to her; ” You embarked on this educational quest not just for the acquisition of knowledge, but with a noble intent to use that knowledge as a tool for personal growth, societal improvement, and global betterment.”

The AfricanTide founder, thanked Governor Douye Diri, whom she said was a beacon of hope for Bayelsans and residents, who emerged in the midst of trials, and that his intervention brought not just relief but a renewed sense of purpose.

She said; “His support underscored the importance of your academic pursuits and recognized the potential impact of your contributions to our society. Thanks to his efforts, your academic achievements are now rightfully acknowledged with the certification that you hold in your hands today.”

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of AfricanTide Association Nigeria, Professor Jason Osai, equally acknowledged that Governor Diri’s intervention and support actually brought relief and a renewed sense of purpose to the programme.

He vouched for the capacity and proficiency of the graduands.

Prof Osai stated, “We are confident that we have prepared our products (trainees) for the international labour market. The presence of our technical partners from Germany testifies to that. The National Board for Technical Education will also endorse this certification by giving diploma to some of our trainees.”

ATTEC, which is poised to create a critical mass of middle-class and higher manpower to drive the local economy, is in partnership with the Bayelsa State Government and Gregory University, Uturu, in Abia State.

In their remarks, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr Stanley Braboke and his education counterpart, Dr Gentle Emelah, also expressed gratitude to the Governor Douye Diri-led administration for not abandoning the programme.

They noted that Smart House programme was one of the several vocational training schemes of the present administration aimed at promoting self reliance and wealth creation, adding that over 3000 youths have benefited from the schemes so far.

In his contribution, the Academy Registrar, Chief James Achogbuo said; “The long awaited graduation and certification ceremony of AfricanTide Technical Training and Education Center (ATTEC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa state took place yesterday 08/02/2024 at the center located at Kpansia- Yenagoa.

“As the Registrar and Administrative head of the institute, I really thank God for the successful end to this project which witnessed a lot of delay.

“The Programme which was a tripartite project of the Bayelsa state govt, German govt and AfricanTide Union – a German based NGO was built around the STEM agenda of science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies.

“The idea of training in renewable energy, smart house and other crafts was to provide the youths of Niger Delta and Bayelsa in particular with the training that will empower them to be entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

“It is my hope that this project will be sustained so that more youths will benefit from the opportunity this kind of training offers.”

A catering graduand interviewed, Miss Wariebi Layefa George, thanked the academy and sponsors for the eventful package given to them through studies.

She advised beneficiaries to put to judicious use what they have learnt, appealing that the programme be continued.

Graduands were presented with Ordinary and Diploma Certificates by the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.