No fewer than 222 residents including women and youths selected from Edo south senatorial district have acquired vocational skills in Edo State.

On Monday, training in Benin City, was facilitated by Matthew Urhoghide, Senator representing Edo South senatorial district at the National Assembly as part of his effort to improve the livelihoods of unemployed individuals.

The beneficiaries will be supported with starter kits to commence their respective businesses with the support of the federal ministry of works and Housing and the Cross River Basin Development Authority,

Addressing journalist at the training session in Benin City, the senator, who is the chairman senate committee on public accounts, said he has so far upgraded the skills and empowered over 7,000 persons across the seven Local Government Areas that make up the senatorial district in the state.

Urhoghide, represented by Pet Eghobamien, legislative aide to the senator, assured that more of the lawmaker’s kind gesture to assist residents to be self-employed would come before the end of 2021 and continue the following year.

“The programme is facilitated by Matthew Urhoghide’. He promised all of these things during electioneering that he will improve lives and livelihoods of Edo people.

“There are different classes of participants; for the metal works, we have 200, for barbing, hair making and fashion, we have 22 persons. Those that will be trained on metal works and local fabrication will go home with N50,000. We are not giving the other ones money but we have given them full complement of what they need to start their business,” Urhoghide said.

On her part, Ogbomo Tona, chief resident officer, Human Resources, federal ministry of works and Housing, who represented the Edo State controller of the ministry, congratulated the trainees, pointing out that capacity development is key nation’s building.

Milkong Kashire, deputy director of administration, Cross River Basin Development Authority, who represented the managing director of the agency, lauded the initiator of the project.

He noted that it is in line with the present administration’s effort in creating a multiplier effect in the economy through empowerment of people for small scale enterprises.

Some of the distributed materials, which worth millions of naira, include generator sets, sewing machines, standing dryer and other equipment.

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