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Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has listed the achievements of his administration in the last two years during a town hall meeting with the people of Ethiope West Local Government Area.
Addressing the mammoth crowd that thronged venue of the meeting, Gov Okowa, who listed his administration’s achievements to include job creation, human capital development, infrastructural development, agricultural reforms, said he was happy with the level of support extended to the government by the people of Delta State.
According to the governor, at the very core of his administration’s S.M.A.R.T agenda is job and wealth creation, because in his words, “we realized that the only way to achieve sustainable economic growth is to create new jobs, diversify the economy through the development of non-oil sectors, and provide the enabling environment for enterprises and industries to thrive. Therefore, in August 2015, we launched the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme with the following programmes viz; Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), and Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP)”
He went on to say that, “it is my pleasure to announce that a total of 17,173 (seventeen thousand, One hundred and seventy three) private sector jobs have so far been created by this administration. This figure consists of 6,800 (six thousand, eight hundred) direct jobs and 10,373 (ten thousand, three hundred and seventy three) indirect jobs of both skilled and unskilled workers. As a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer accounted for 7,522 (seven thousand, five hundred and twenty two) of these jobs while the remaining 9,651 (nine thousand, six hundred and fifty one) were created through projects, programmes and initiatives implemented through the various MDAs.”
On Infrastructural Development, he noted that,
“consistent with our determination to develop, maintain and renew our infrastructure, in line with our growth aspirations, the first year of this administration witnessed wide ranging developments in the construction of roads, markets development and the building of hospitals and schools.”
Governor Okowa listed some of the roads projects to include,
-The Jesse Access Road dualisation in Ethiope West Local Government Area,
– Ejinyere/Orodje Street in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area;
– Jeddo Ughoton Road and Access Road to Eagles Height University (Phase 1 Jeddo/Omadino Bridge), Okpe local Government Area;
– Oteri Township Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
– Okere-Urhobo Community Roads in Warri South Local Government Area (Olomu link Road, 1st and 2nd Olomu Streets, Otor-Okere and Agba Roads);
– Kefas Road with a spur to Uzere junction, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area;
– Uduophori road (Phase 1), Patani Local Government Area;
– Orikeze Street with a spur to Orikeze close, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area;
– Usonia Road, off Nnebisi Road, Asaba;
– Faculty of Law Complex, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Isoko South Local Government Area;
– Pedriatic Wards/Water Scheme in Patani General Hospital; and
– Azu-Owa Abavo Cottage Hospital, Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area
Cable Point Road dualization, Asaba, Okpanam Road Dualization, Asaba, Warri-Sapele Road Dualization in Sapele from Amukpe Roundabout, the construction of Amekpa-Afiesere-Ufuoma Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Lagos-Asaba Road dualization in Agbor, constructions of Oza-nogogo-Alisimie Road in Ika South Local Government Area, and Okerenkoko Beach Road in Warri South West Local Government Area
While speaking on Education, the governor said
“The major slippage in our educational sector in the last two decades or so has been the overemphasis on certificate acquisition. As a result, we have a generation of secondary school leavers and university graduates that can only survive on paid employment; worse still, many of them are actually unemployable.”
He disclosed that the administration has reconstructed/rehabilitated and equipped three technical colleges in Ofagbe, Sapele and Agbor.
According to Governor Okowa the government undertook the following at the Agbor Technical College:
– conversion of catering/workshop block to a six-classroom block with stores and toilets;
– conversion of a six-classroom block without stores and toilets to a standard classroom block with stores and toilets;
– demolition and reconstruction of hostel block;
– renovation of six-ckassroom block with stores and toilets;
– renovation of three-classroom block with stores and toilets;
– demolition of 2Nos dilapidated four-classroom/workshop block and construction of 2Nos prototype six-classroom block with stores and toilet facilities;
– renovation of prototype building/block laying workshop with offices;
– completion of prototype steel stanchion and structural roof workshop building;
– construction of a 3-bedroom bungalow for the principal;
– completion of prototype steel stanchion and structural roof workshop -building(auto mechanic and welding fabrication workshop);
– improvement of multipurpose school hall;
– demolition and reconstruction of a prototype administrative block; and
– construction of twin 2-bedroom staff quarters (2No).
-the awarded phase II project which captured construction of school fence, gate/gate house have also been completed, while building of generator house, erosion control and construction of the school’s access roads and drains are all currently work in progress.
He also added that the Sapele Technical College, received similar attention, and the following was carried out:
– renovation of principal’s lodge (2-bedroom duplex quarters and 18Nos garages);
– renovation of staff room/computer centre;
– renovation/rehabilitation of hostel block;
– renovation of painting and decoration block;
– renovation of electrical building;
– expansion/renovation of generator house;
– renovation of electrical Workshop;
– renovation of radio, TV and electronics block;
– renovation of toilet block by woodwork and furniture craft practice workshop;
– renovation of secretariat department typing pool;
– completion of science laboratory;
– renovation/alteration works of administrative/principal’s office block;
– demolition and reconstruction of administrative block (principal’s office);
– renovation of staff quarters;
– renovation of welding/fabrication workshop;
– renovation of automobile workshop;
– construction of dining hall;
– construction of block of toilets;
– renovation of hostel block(storey building);
– renovation of electrical workshop;
– renovation of mechanical department (six-classroom block);
– renovation of library block;
– renovation of science laboratory/business studies department; and
– renovation of mechanical department (four-classroom block).
The governor also explained that a good number of the primary and secondary schools in the state have been renovated by the state government in an effort to make learning environment conducive for pupils and students.
BY JONATHAN ONWUKA.