By Ovedhe Jerry.

The Chief Job creation officer of the Delta State Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and Skills Training and Empowerment Programme (STEP), Prof. Eric Ebor has commended the 2015/2016 YAGEP and STEP Isoko beneficiaries of the programme over the level of success story recorded by the beneficiaries, saying this will enable the beneficiaries contribute their own quota to the development and growth of state.

Prof. Ebor stated this during the one day  interactive session with the 2015/2016 STEP and YAGEP beneficiaries held at the NULGE hall in Ozoro, the headquarter of Isoko North local government area of Delta state.

He said that, the beneficiaries has been able to turn all their challenges into entrepreneurial means thereby creating employment for themselves and others, as well as help alleviate poverty from Delta state in line with the SMART agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“We are here to find out how far you have gone with your various entrepreneurial skills, to know the challenges you are facing now and how we proffer solution to your challenges and sustain your business for your success.”

“The reason why we have not been able to address some of your challenges is as a result of the fact that, we don’t have different clusters in the 2015/2016 YAGEP and STEP set unlike the 2017 YAGEP and STEP set. The clusters will enable us address all your needs. We are working in collaboration with the Directorate Youth Monitoring and Mentoring and the State government to facilitate Micro credit scheme for all YAGEP and STEP beneficiaries across the state to help sustain your businesses”. Prof Ebor opined.

He also appealed to beneficiaries who have not receive their 30,000 starters pack stipends, to exercise patience, adding that, the office of the Director Youth Monitoring and Mentoring is working seriously to pay those who have not been paid, and however urge the beneficiaries to write their names and account details down for payment.

While addressing the beneficiaries, the Director Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, Delta state, Mr. Edward Mekwe, said that, the essence of the interactive session with the YAGEP and STEP beneficiaries is for the beneficiaries to enumerate all the challenges they are facing in the cause of running their businesses as well proffer solutions to their challenges and help sustain their businesses.

He analyzed the various mentoring steps put in place by the office of the Directorate Youth Monitoring and Mentoring Programme and the office of the Chief Job creation, Delta state to help sustain their businesses.

On his part, the Chairman of Isoko North local government council, Hon Emmanuel Egbabor, who was represented by the secretary to the Isoko North Local Government Council, Barr Vote Umukoro, who urge the beneficiaries to make judicious used of the opportunities available to them and advised them, neversell any of the starter pack given to you, for this will help you establish yourself for the start.

Some of the beneficiaries enumerated some of the challenges they are facing in their various field of trades as well as the success they have recorded so far in their trades, just as they appealed to the State government, the Director Monitoring and Mentoring and the Chief Job creation officer to assist them with finance to help them expand their business.

In a swift response, Ojada Philip who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries commended the, Delta state governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his SMART and prosperity for all Deltans Agenda , the Director Monitoring and Mentoring and the Chief Job creation officer for ensuring that the beneficiaries are well equip with knowledge needed to establish themselves in their various trades.