Edo Council, Organisers Partner To Equip Youths With Skills

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

The Executive Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Prince Abdullahi Momodu, has pledged the council’s support for a vocational empowerment programme designed to reduce youth unemployment, promote self-reliance, and complement ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across Esan land.

Momodu said the initiative would provide young people with practical, income-generating skills capable of opening up sustainable livelihood opportunities and steering them away from criminal activities.

He stressed that empowering youths economically was essential to building safer, more productive and resilient communities.

The initiative, organised by the Centre for Moral Value and Justice in partnership with the Edo State Ministry for Public Safety and Security, is expected to provide vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities to youths across the five local government areas in Esan land.

The programme is being convened by Comrade Inegbenehi Sylvester, with Hon. Chris Okojie serving as co-convener. It is scheduled to be officially flagged off on October 6, 2026, at the Esan West Local Government Secretariat.

Following the flag-off, the training will be decentralised to Esan West, Esan South-East, Esan North-East, Esan Central and Igueben local government areas to ensure wider access and participation.

The training will be facilitated by the Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen, a body affiliated with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

Speaking on the initiative, Momodu said his administration would work with the organisers to ensure that a significant number of youths from Esan Central benefit from the programme.

He said the council would mobilise and facilitate broad participation, stressing that vocational education could provide young people with the skills required to secure employment, establish businesses and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.

“Empowering our youths with practical skills is critical to making them economically productive and reducing their vulnerability to criminal activities,” Momodu said.