Over 400 beneficiaries of W’Bank project lament diversion of start-up capital

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

At least, 400 beneficiaries of the World Bank-Assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) skills acquisition Project in Bayelsa have lamented delays in releasing start-up capital and expressed fears that the funds may have been diverted.

They are apprehensive that more than two years after they graduated from various vocational skills training by the agency, they have remained idle without their starter packs pledged to them as part of the project.

The selected candidates underwent between two and three years of training at different craft centres in the state to prepare them to be self-employed.

The training centres including Government Science and Technical College, Okaka, and the Government Craft Development Centres in Sagbama, Adagbabiri, Ayakoro, Polaku and Nembe.

They were trained in cosmetology, welding, plumbing, electrical installation, diesel/outboard engine repairs, fashion design, catering, hair dressing, computer repairs and business education, among others.

Checks indicate that the over N50m worth of start-up packs for the beneficiaries, which were acquired and handed over to the Bayelsa government by the World Bank are gathering in some warehouses in Yenagoa.

Some beneficiaries who spoke on the development expressed concerned that the items might be diverted by government officials in whose custody the items are kept.

The beneficiaries who wished not to be named for fears of being victimised said that they were worried that since the donors had concluded the project, there was no means of monitoring the conclusion of the project left in the hands of the state government.

They lamented that they were even more frustrated by the delay in the release of the starter packs after attending verification exercises where their hopes were raised.

One of the female beneficiaries who trained on hair dressing and cosmetology, said the inability of the state government to give them the starter packs had made things difficult for her.

“I trained at Sagbama for two years, and it has not been easy for me without the starter pack. They promised that they will give us starter packs after the training.

“Since we finished the training, we have been waiting for the government to give us our starter packs, but they have not given us. By the plans the donors had for us we ought to be thinking of expanding our trades by now,” she said

Another beneficiary, who trained on electrical installation and maintenance, said: “I finished training in 2019.

“Since we finished the training, we have not received our items of empowerment because they promised they will give us, and we were happy.

“They called us for verification last year, they interviewed and asked us questions on our trades, and everything was concluded. They said they will give us the items as soon as possible, but till now we have not seen anything.”

The beneficiaries appealed to the government to distribute the items to enable them to practice their trades effectively to better their lives and be self-reliant.

Checks at the SEEFOR Project office in Yenagoa, which supervised and implemented the World Bank Assisted project, showed that the agency rounded off its activities in the state on September 30, 2020.

It was learnt that some staff of the state government seconded to run the project office have since returned to their parent ministries following the end of the project.

A source in the project office said that the project was now in the hands of the Bayelsa Ministry of Education.

Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, said that his ministry was preparing for the ceremony of distribution of the empowerment packages to the beneficiaries

According to him, everything is ready as approval of the date by Governor Douye Diri was being awaited.