Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his commitment to continuity by retaining key policies from his predecessor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, particularly in education and human capital development.
Speaking at the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) Interventions and Graduation Ceremony of the Diri Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Programme in Yenagoa, the governor emphasized the importance of sustaining the EDTF, describing it as a visionary initiative crucial to the state’s progress.
Governor Diri also highlighted his administration’s focus on equipping Bayelsans with skills to foster a thriving private sector independent of government support. To this end, 2,850 trainees who completed a five-month program in various vocational fields—ranging from solar installation to fashion design—received starter packs to aid their entrepreneurial journeys.
“This empowerment scheme is a critical aspect of our administration,” Diri stated. “We want a Bayelsa where people are self-sufficient, where the private sector flourishes. You, the graduates, are the ones who will build that future.”
He urged beneficiaries to utilize their skills effectively and avoid selling their starter kits, while directing the Technical Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development to conduct performance evaluations on past participants.
The event also saw the state honoring notable figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Governor Seriake Dickson, and Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, with the Honorary Ambassador of Education Award for their contributions to education in Bayelsa.
In his acceptance speech, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Tobias James, Jonathan lauded the recognition and reiterated his commitment to advocating for accessible education in Bayelsa State and beyond.
Dr. Alice Atuwo, Executive Secretary of the EDTF, noted that since its establishment in 2017, the fund has expanded from sponsoring students in five model schools to 11, with additional support now extended to technical colleges.
Similarly, Technical Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development, Mrs. Charity Ken-Godwins, highlighted the administration’s growing impact, revealing that since 2021, over 4,500 Bayelsans have benefited from skills acquisition programs, with thousands more set to be trained in 2025.
She said: "In 2021, 814 students graduated from the skills acquisition programme. In 2022, another 815 benefitted and today we are celebrating the graduation of 2,850 trainees who acquired skills in leather works, fashion design, cosmetology and other areas. These skills will instill in them a sense of self-reliance and entrepreneurship."
Governor Diri further directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure the completion of technical colleges in Southern Ijaw and Nembe this year, reinforcing his administration’s drive to enhance vocational education and economic self-reliance in the state.
