By Grandball Joel
Over 500 youths have graduated from URHOBO Progressive Youth Association, UPYA, free skills acquisition and mobile empowerment programe in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State.
UPYA, a Non-Governmental Organization, has embarked on training youths in the Niger/Delta region to be self sufficient and not to be nuisance to the society.
The president of UPYA, Comr. Marcus Ekure in his speech said, “Orogun Train was so challenging and discouraging at the onset, but turned out to be the very best the Team have ever had both in turnout, coordination, organisation, cooperation and other wise.
According to Ekure, “The cardinal objective of this program is to enhance the drive for financial independence amongst our youths and women while strengthening small and medium scale enterprises in our communities.
“We are feeling fulfilled going by the avalanche of accolades that we are achieving our purpose by the grace of God.
“Our Team Members remain the very best as we remain bonded and passionately knitted as one in understanding and as the TEAM Leader, I seize this opportunity to specially appreciate the entire UPYA TEAM members, especially the Crew Members of the Orogun Train for a job well done.
Speaking further, Marcus Ekure opined that, Youths are the future leaders of this nation and with the economic situation in the globe, since our certificates can no longer put food in our table, they should have the drive to have a skill.
He said, “Late Tupac ones said, if the rich cannot spread their riches among the poor, the poor will spread their poverty among the rich and going by that, UPYA/ ACLEVS took the sole responsibility of spreading the little knowledge it has for others to benefit.
“We are targeting to train 5,000 youths in the region on yearly basis and we have successfully made some impact, we will not relent until the team is satisfied with the level of skills being acquired by our youths.
On her own, the first female captain of the free empowerment programe at Orogun, Comrade Gladys Ataraire, said, We don’t want our to be relying on people or their certificates before they can put food on their table.
The Orogun Train Captain held, that every youth in Niger/Delta must realize that life has gone beyond our Bsc certificate. These certificate can no longer put food on out table.
“Our youths should come out of their shells to pick a skill and learn it for free with UPYA/ACLEVS and if we fail, the next generation to come would not be happy with our world.
“China as a country is known today for her skills and not by certificate and in fee years time, almost everybody in China would become a millionaire through the skills the have acquired.
Captain Ataraire, however enjoined all that has past though the UPYA /ACLEVS free training to make good use the they one in a life time opportunity they have got and spread the good news.
