GOV OKOWA'S AIDES OSSAI, EZEKIEL TAKE SKILL ACQUISITION AWARENESS TO DELTA STATE POLYTECHNIC OGWASHI-UKU AS THOUSANDS STUDENTS HAIL INITIATIVE .

With the paradigm shift from certificate based knowledge to skills on hand, the Deelta state Government through the Office of the Political Aides to the Delta state Governor on Student Affairs and Special Duties have in their continued desire to take the SMART Agenda to the Students have organised the second edition of her One Day Awareness/Sensitization tagged; Even a Professor Needs a Skill.

The Second Edition which took place at the Event Centre of the Delta state Polytechnic in Ogwashi-Uku was commended by all. Speaking to newsman at the close of the programme, Comr Okoh Ezekiel Tega Oghenetega, the Political Aide to the Delta state Governor on Student Affairs, a co-convener, noted that the program was not just meant for students alone, but even for the Professors there present adding that with the nose dive in the Federations source of income, there is a great shortage of jobs.

"This program is not just for the students, it's for every body here present the Professors inclusive. With the nosedive in our Nations income, and the way things are worsening daily, I tell you, even a Professor Needs a Skill. There are shortages of jobs, white collared employers of labor are now upgrading to computer based. But there is no computer that would wire your house for you, or plaster your house. It is only are skilled personnel that can do that, so there's no way someone with suckling skills would go hungry or loose his job" Comr Okoh noted.

Expantiating on the need for skill acquisitions, Hon. Ossai Ovie Success, the Political Aides to the Delta state Governor on Special Duties who is also a convener of the event, added that the large number of jobless graduates who walk under the sun daily in search of non existent white collar jobs prompted the duo to organise the event.

"We are appointees of the Delta state Governor, and the Delta state Governor has timelessly reiterated the need for unemployment to be mopped up. And that is one of the reasons we are here, to create awareness to the Students on the need to get skills upon graduation so that when jobs are not forth coming, our young graduates would not be confused. Also it pricks my heart whenever I see able bodied graduates, walking around under the scorching sun daily in search of jobs even after five years after graduation, yet these white collar jobs are non existent. But with a Skill, such a graduate would have had something doing."

Giving testimonies of the benefits of a Skill, Delta state Governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi OKOWA who was ably Represented by his Senior Policy Adviser, Professor Hon Sylvester Monye MFR, told the story of his daughter who is a fashion designer irrespective of the fact that her father is the Governor of an oil producing state.

Also speaking on the need to gain skills, the Honorable Commissioner for Higher Education, Engr Jude Sinebe stated that "the money I spend to trim my hair and sew my clothes along side those spent by my colleagues and other Deltans is enough for you to build houses. If you have the skills and deploy it, there would be no way you would be hungry"

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Dr. Festus Okubor who also gave his testimony on the advantage of having skills, stated that upon graduation, the first large chunk of money he ever made was by being a vulcanizer even as a Professional Medical Doctor. Dr. Okubor who further declared a new policy in the Polytechnic where students would no longer be able to graduate if they don't acquire skills, stated that his salary alone would not have been able to take care of his family but for the skills he gained when he was younger.

Present at the Event also were the Senior Political Adviser to the Delta state Governor, Chief Festus Ochonogor, The Executive Secretary of the Delta state Technical and Vocational Education Board Comr. Michael Akpobire who was accompanied by the First Member of the Board, Engr Smart Ikem, the Head of Operations, ONUESOKE FOUNDATION, Mrs Pearl Igho, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof Mrs Chimeke Stella, Senior Assistant on Protocol Hon Samuel Chiedu Fejokwu, Senior Assistant on Social Media and PDP Patani Chairman Hon Godspower Omafuvwe Asiuwhu, Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties Hon Egwunyenga Ifeanyi Mike, Senior Assistant on Students Affairs Comr Ehiwario Jerry , Ambassadors of the #NotTooYoungToRun in Delta State, Comrs Elvis Akpobi Majority and Comr. Tomi Akporoghene Wojuola, Comr Christian Onwugbolu, Comr Okeoghene Anthony and Obaro Egagifo respectively amongst many other dignitaries