Hundreds of Anambra Central constituents have continued to emerge as beneficiaries of a series of skill acquisition and capacity building training organided by the Senator representing the district at the National Assembly, Senator Uche Ekwunife.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Science and Technology had within three and half years facilitated over eighteen skill acquisition training programmes in various fields for her constituents.
On Friday additional participants drawn from various wards of the Senatorial District became beneficiaries of capacity building training facilitated by Ekwunife. The training workshops were implemented by the following government parastatals: National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI); Bioresources Development Centre, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA) and SHEDA Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO).
At the Ekwunife Centre Awka where the human resource trainings were held, participants consisting of women , youths and students took turns to shower accolades on Ekwunife for conceiving and sustaining the initiative over the years. In the usual practice graduands of the three days / week long exercise were provided with starter kits and funds to commence practice immediately.
Engr Amonye Michael of the NBTI who lectured Agro-entrepreneur trainees on the processes of business identification and value addition to raw materials in Anambra state, disclosed that Agro products when innovatively processed can be sold more than triple the price of its raw material.
Amonye while taking participants on the prospects and challenges of the leather industry appreciated Ekwunife for providing her constituents such skill building opportunities.
He said ; ” We are grateful to Ekwunife for giving these sets of training to her constituents; this shows how much value she has placed on human capacity development. This will allow the constituents to garner some knowledge that will change their economic fortune, adding that the industry earns the country a lot of foreign exchange.
On his part NBTI skill trainer, Dr Ugochukwu Okafor, led the participants through the process of intellectual property and knowledge transfer. Practical and exhibition sessions were held to ground the knowledge of raw material processing on the participants. South East Zonal Director of the NBTI , Dr. Uche Chukwu described technology as the key to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.
During the Bioresource Development Centre ( BIODEC) training, its Abagana center coordinator Mr. Cletus Ezidi, drilled Ekwunife’s constituents on means of improving agricultural productivity,, especially as it relates to post harvest operations.
The SHEDA Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), exhibited practical science practicals to secondary school students in Anambra Central on the use of modern Laboratories and Facilities in Biotechnology , Chemistry, Physics and Applied Mathematics.
One of the beneficiaries ,Master Okechukwu Franklin a student of Federal Science and Technical College Awka, relayed the practical techniques taught by the SHESTCO officials.
Franklin spoke on the techniques learnt; “Master Okechukwu Franklin from Federal Science and Technical College Awka ; “We talked about how to dilute a concentrated acid, how to check the pH level of water and some other solutions on how to make use of a buffer solution economically and also avoid waste. We were also taught how to make use of other laboratory equipment that the pipette and improvement and it’s really a wonderful session.
“We were also taught the use of acid for the production of certain materials in the society and how to dispose of your waste in the laboratories and want to thank Senator Uche Ekwunife for the wonderful work she has done.
Speaking earlier at each training session Ekwunife pressed on the necessity to develop a vibrant manufacturing economy for the advancement of the Nigerian economic masterplan, adding that the government at all levels must promote and encourage, Innovative manufacturing and Medium, Small Enterprises( MSMEs), particularly amongst Nigerian youth.
Ekwunife alluded the Nation’s current economic turbulence to low productivity within the economy ; “Nigeria has a large population, ever ready to consume but our consumption is yet to be matched by local producers leaving foreign producers to fill the void.
“The turnaround of the country’s dwindling economic fortunes would only be possible through concerted employment in the agricultural and manufacturing sector.
“For improved agricultural productivity, rural dwellers need deeper knowledge on agricultural operations, especially as it relates to post harvest operations. Nigeria can achieve food sufficiency if proper investment in mechanized agriculture is made to increase the yield per hectare of our farmers.
Represented by the Head of her Liaison Office, Dr. Ofozoba Chinonso, Ekwunife urged participants to utilize the entrepreneurship program for economic sustainability and self-reliance.
