———Praises Governor Obaseki For Providing Skills And Vocational Centres In The State.”
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
A frontline member of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Edo State, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon(aka Riceman), has joined other well meaning Nigerians in the struggle to keep the youths off the street and engage them in meaningful activities.
Imansuangbonin in his usual and philanthropic manner gave N1,000,000(One million naira), to Skills Acquisition Programme, the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative(CEDDI) in order to boost the programme.
Imansuangbon (aka Rice Man), donated the money in Benin City, on the occasion of the graduation ceremony of the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative(CEDDI) .
Imansuangbon who was the chairman of the occasion called on stakeholders in the state to take a cue from the state governor, Godwin Obaseki “in ensuring that the youths of the state are engaged in productive ventures by provision of skills and vocational centres in the state.”
According to Barrister Imansuangbon,, “the situation of unemployment in this country and around the world is worrisome, therefore any initiative to keep our people off the street should ordinarily be supported by well meaning individuals.
“I am informed that CEDDI Skills Acquisition Centre & Diabetic Care Clinic started as an itinerant concept where healthcare and vocational skills such as Cosmetology, Catering, Beauty care etc are brought to the doorstep of the people who are among the not-so-privileged.
“This idea was a response to the pervasive problem of poverty, hunger, joblessness and sickness among the people.
“This initiative has grown since the last nine years with several landmark achievements and expenditure running to over N500 million.
“I am very proud of our father, the Iyase of Benin, Chief Dr Sam Udiyinwe Igbe (MON), and other members of the board, partners and friends of CEDDI Skills Acquisition Centre and Diabetic Clinic, who have kept the dream of this initiative alive. Through this initiative, thousands of our people have been given livelihood skills and empowered to set up their own businesses, as well as the Diabetic Clinic which is the first of it’s kind in the country.”
“This private initiative, I must say, is also in line with the desire of His Excellency, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, in ensuring that the youths of the state are engaged in productive ventures by provision of skills and vocational centres in the state.
“I want to encourage our graduants to take advantage of these opportunities provided by CEDDI to better their lives. After one year of training, today is the day many of you have been looking forward to and I am sure you will not be disappointed.
“I must thank the Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, for creating this enabling environment for this initiative to strive. I want to call on other Edo State stakeholders to take a cue from this initiative from our Governor Godwin Obaseki and our father, Chief Sam Igbe.”
Imansuangbon, promised to set up such programme for the youth in Abuja while calling on other meaningful Nigerians to follow suit.
In his welcome address, the initiator of the programme, Chief Sam Igbe, urged the graduants to always keep the flag flying by ensuring that they put to good use all that they learnt in the course of undergoing the training
Those present at the event were representatives of Minister for Health, and Budget.