Blessing Iruoma, Port Harcourt
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Erastus Awortu, has announced that the council would spend about N150 million on scholarship for youths in the area.
The local council boss disclosed that the two-year maritime training scholarship programme, saying it would attract development and reduce poverty and insecurity in the area.
Awortu disclosed this while officially handing over the trainees and beneficiaries of the 2021 Maritime scholarship scheme powered by Andoni local area council to Charkin Maritime Academy.
According to Awortu, youth development is a pet project his administration will use to achieve sustainable peace and development in the area.
It would be recalled that on assumption of duty in office, the Chairman commenced a full scholarship programme for 15 students; 12 males and 3 females.
The two year programme is estimated to gulp about N10million for each of the beneficiaries.
Awortu stated that “Youth employment is one area that is so dear to my heart, it is a key factor that we intend to harness in the fight against crime and restiveness in Andoni”.
Commending the gesture, Chief Executive Officer of Chakin Maritime Academy, Dr. Charles Wami, said that the move was timely especially considering a large employment gap that exist within the subsector.
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“The course for the programme ‘Maritime Education and Training in Marine Engineering and Nautical Science’ will equip beneficiaries with requisite entrepreneurial skills. We are grooming these set of cadets to become Merchant Navy Officers.
“I can assure you, in the next couple of years these cadets will turn out to be captains and chief engineers on board ships trading on international waters and of course Nigerian waters.
“This is indeed a right step in the right direction considering manpower shortfall in the subsector,” he said.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the programme expressed gratitude to the council and the new council boss for the initiative. They promised to uphold the confidence reposed on them.
Picture: A group photograph of Andoni LG council chairman, Erastus Awortu, CEO of Chakin Maritime Academy, Dr. Charles Wami and beneficiaries of the maritime training scholarship
