WARRI-Mike Orugbo Farms Limited, a subsidiary of O-SECUL Nigeria Limited on Friday graduated 35 persons from its ongoing Fish Farming and Value Addition Training Programme.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of O-SECUL Nigeria Ltd, Engr. Mike Orugbo said the training programme, which took place in Ekpan, Uvwie Council Area of Delta State, was aimed at empowering youths from the State to become self-employed and later become employers of labour.
Engr Orugbo told newsmen shortly after the graduation/award of certificates ceremony held in the company’s premises in Warri, that he organized the training programme because of his desire to change the economic narrative of the Niger Delta Region.
He said it was the aim of O-SECUL to create wealth for the people and help them benefit from some of the policies of Government towards facilitating growth in the agricultural sector.
He expressed the belief that through the training programme, our people, especially the young ones would be gainfully employed and the many security challenges that we face today would be drastically reduced.
According to Orugbo, it is wrong for people to think that the youths are only good at bursting oil pipes, as they can be employed if they are encouraged through the right platforms.
The O-SECUL Chairman, said the programme, still ongoing, needs more funds for expansion to enable the company train more people.
He said the programme had trained about 35 persons theoretically and practically, necessitating the need to put facilities in place to maximize the carrying capacity of the classroom and create enough space for practicals.
He called on well meaning Nigerians to support the Government, noting that the country is stagnant today because people want government to do everything for them.
Engr Orugbo assured the people that Government is interested in the programme by giving his company the concession to manage the Uvwie Fish Feed Milll which is part of Government-owned business.
On the amount spent so far on the programme, Engr Orugbo said much had been involved but declined to quote figures, as that would amount to blowing his own trumpet.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Julius Egbedi, represented by Mrs. Vivian Oghojafor, assured Mike Orugbo Farms that Government was ready to partner with it so that the programme could admit and benefit more people.
A facilitator at the training programme, Prof. Iyabode Taiwo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) appealed to the trainees to use the skills they acquired to benefit themselves and the society, describing agriculture as the main source of life. She used the opportunity to thank the MD of O-SECUL for the training, saying that she would be impressed to see all the trainees going into practice.
Ernest Mereh, Finance Supervisor, Udu Local Govt, and Precious Onome, the Supervisor for Agriculture, Ughelli South Local Govt, who represented Udu and Ughelli South Council Chairmen respectively, assured Mike Orugbo Farms that their Councils would continue to partner with the company.
Some of the participants at the ceremony commended the Chairman of O-SECUL for giving them the opportunity to be trained in fish farming, promising to use what they learnt to benefit their families and the society at large.
