Ministry empowers 84 persons in soap, detergent production

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, on Saturday in Uyo, trained and empowered 84 youths and women in soaps, detergents and home disinfectants production to enhance development in the region.

Mr Augustine Azebeokhai, Special Assistant to the Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Development, who declared the training open, noted that each of the 84 trainees would be empowered with N250,000 starter pack to enable the trainee to start a business.

Azebeokhai stated that the Uyo training was the fourth in the series as the ministry had earlier trained youths and women in Auchi, Asaba, and Warri.

He added that the federal government through the ministry introduced the programme as a deliberate policy to enhance development and reduce unemployment and youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

“This programme we are doing today is for the year 2023, and we have carried out this programme in various centres.

“The first centre was in Auchi, when we trained about 85 persons, the second centre was in Asaba, where we trained about 110, the third centre was in Warri, where we trained about 93 and the fourth centre is in Uyo today, where we are teaching about 84 youths and women today.

“Currently, we are training them on household products, we shall further train them on real agricultural value chain, to go into cassava production, poultry farming, fish farming and all trades that could help put money in their pockets.

“This training and empowerment is meant to reduce youth restiveness and unemployment within the Niger Delta region,” he said.

The special assistant to the minister added that the selection criteria for the trainees cut across all local government areas of the nine intervention states.

He said the ministry from July would go into database collection to collate names so that those who have benefited from the programme will not come take other chances.

He urged the trainees to take the training seriously as it would impact positively in their lives and put food on their table.

Earlier the Consultant for the programme, Mr Elton Onwu, while welcoming the trainees said that the training is meant to equip them with the knowledge and skills to prepare high-quality soaps, detergents and disinfectants.

Onwu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Samgreen Resources Nigeria Ltd. said that the trainees would be equipped with the science behind soap making and various methods of detergent production.

“By the end of the programme, you will not only have a deeper understanding of soap, detergents and disinfectant production.

“You will also gain the confidence to start making these productions for yourself, and your loved ones, build a sustainable business from this training and eventually become an employer of labour and wealth creator,” Onwu said.

Some of the trainees who spoke thanked the federal government, ministry of Niger Delta Development for bringing the programme to the region and promised to invest the money for a positive impact on their lives and the economy.

One of the participants, Mr Idaewor Gentle, from Edo thanked the federal government for a thoughtful programme to empower the youths of the Niger Delta region.

Gentle said that after the training, he will use the starter pack given to invest and generate more money for himself and his family.

Another trainee, Miss Uduakobong Effiong, from Akwa Ibom commended the ministry for organising the programme to develop the women of the region.

She promised to utilise the training to impact other young girls working with her when she opens her business.