A call has been made to oil firms operating in Rivers State to invest massively in human capacity development, in order to produce the needed manpower to drive the economy of the country and complement government’s efforts to improve the lives of the people.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mr. Dagogo Adonye-Hart, made the call while speaking at the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, 2018 LiveWIRE presentation of business start-up awards in Port Harcourt, recently.
Hart said it was time for oil companies to emulate SPDC by putting the development of the state at fore, adding that when priority is given to human capacity development, the region would witness peace, economic revival, and transformation, thereby creating a conducive environment for investment.
He commended SPDC for always getting involved with the progress of the youths while charging other multinationals operating in the state to emulate Shell in youth empowerment.
According to him, “When the people were better equipped to face the challenges of life, there would be peace and harmony, fewer incidents of kidnapping, violent crimes and criminalities, pipeline vandalism, among others.
“If all the companies engage in one laudable project or the other, government’s commitment to creating employment opportunities for the youths and efforts to curb crime and criminality in the state and region would achieve meaningful results.
“We have always been in partnership with Shell; Shell is always involved with the progress of the youths, not only in education. Education is not only about going to school to read and write but having an educated mindset, knowing what to do and solving problems.
“If other companies will emulate Shell in youths empowerment, youth restiveness in the Niger Delta will reduce.”
Also, the General Manager, External Relations, SPDC, Mr. Igo Weli said a total of 7072 entrepreneurs from the Niger Delta region have been produced from the Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, SPDC’s Livewire program since it was inaugurated in 2003.
Weli explained that Shell LiveWire program provides training and finance for young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta to set up and grow their businesses, as well as enables young people to start their own businesses and create employment for themselves and others.
“The LiveWire Nigeria was launched in Nigeria in 2003 and has produced 7,072 Niger Delta entrepreneurs, most of whom are now employs of labour. Some of the beneficiaries have also been given the opportunity to play in SPDC’s supply chain as vendors and have been linked to growth capital from other agencies.
“Shell LiveWire provides budding young entrepreneurs with access to the essential ideas into a viable and sustainable business. We hope that with legitimate alternative means of livelihoods, our young men and women will turn their backs on vices.”
SOURCE: sweetcrudereports