CEDDI urges Edo to provide free skills training for youths to tackle poverty

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

The Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative (CEDDI) has called on the Edo State Government to provide free vocational training for youths as part of efforts to tackle poverty, promote economic self-reliance and expand livelihood opportunities across the state.

Lawrence Omoregie, Executive Director of CEDDI in Edo State, made the call during an awareness rally organised in partnership with the Heartbeat People Development Initiative (HPDI) to mark World Poverty Day at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council.

Omoregie said accessible skills acquisition programmes would equip young people with practical competencies to earn a living, establish businesses and contribute to the state's economic development.

He identified limited public awareness of existing vocational training opportunities as a major obstacle to youth empowerment, urging the government to intensify public enlightenment and expand access to relevant training programmes.

“Skills acquisition is a practical way to reduce poverty. With proper vocational training, people can earn a living and provide for themselves. The government should make these opportunities free and accessible to young people,” he said.

The CEDDI director said the organisation had continued to advocate poverty reduction and youth empowerment in Edo, stressing the need for vocational education to feature prominently in the state's development agenda.

He disclosed that the organisation planned to extend its awareness campaign to the Edo State Government House to seek further government support for its proposals.

The rally was held under the theme, “Safe Homes for All, United for Peace and Human Rights,” highlighting the relationship between safe communities, human rights and efforts to improve people's living conditions.

Omoregie also announced that CEDDI would celebrate its 15th anniversary in the coming weeks, marking its years of advocacy and engagement on development issues.

Receiving the participants on behalf of Dr Festus Alenkhe, chairman of the NUJ Edo State Council, Lucky Ighomuaye, the council's financial secretary, commended CEDDI for its efforts towards poverty reduction and youth empowerment.

Ighomuaye said the delegation's message would be conveyed to the council chairman, noting that collaboration between the media union and development organisations could strengthen initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods in the state.

He added that greater public awareness of available skills acquisition opportunities, supported by government investment in accessible vocational training, could improve the economic prospects of young people in Edo.

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