The Bayelsa state government has restated its desire towards capacity building for youths of the state. The state governor, Senator Douye Diri gave the indications during the week at the foundation laying ceremony of the Diri industrial-skills and entrepreneurial training Scheme (DIETS), in Yenagoa. He said the skills training centre which was a private sector funded project has now been taken over by the state government,
noting that it would be ready in no distance time for the entrepreneurial skills training for youths of the state, describing it as an economic booster for the state by way of direct and indirect employment opportunities after the graduation of participants in the programme.
New National Star reports that the Diri industrial-skills and entrepreneurial training Scheme(DIETS) is a skills acquisition programme the Bayelsa state government is carrying out in partnership with a firm, the ‘AfricanTide Association’ and Fern University in Hagen, Germany as well as others.
“Let me start by prefexing my remarks by alluding to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the acronym ‘DIETS’. “A healthy diet protects against malnutrition in all it’s forms as well as in non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and cancer.
An unhealthy diet on the other hand is lack of physical activity and leading to global risk of health. “When the Commissioner for Labour, Employment generation and Productivity first approached me about this project with the acronym ‘DIETS’ I couldn’t help but to laugh.
I find it a happy irony that our presence here today is to lay the foundation for the appropriately titled, Diri industrial-skills and entrepreneurial training Scheme (DIETS).
“The unavailability of white collar jobs and the attendant frustration it can produce is the leading cause of many social ills in our society today, particularly among our youths and impressionable population.
DIETS, as we’ve heard from the Commissioner and the President of the AfricanTide association,Dr Rosalyn Dressman will be responsible for bringing out best in our youths and in lifting out many from the doldrums of poverty and unemployment.
It would create windows of opportunities for our youths to become self-sustaining, professionals and free up the congested labour market and the illusion for seeking non-existence jobs”, Governor Diri said.
In his opening remarks, the state Commissioner for Labour, Employment generation and Productivity, Mr Stanley Braboke The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has said that a virile, functional, well-funded and independent labour and industrial court is a panacea to incessant industrial actions, rancorous, hostile and epileptic work environment.
Muhammad noted that this is in line with his vision of bringing justice delivery to the door steps of the people at minimal cost, inconvenience and delay, saying the judiciary under his watch has achieved giant strides in the areas of facilities and infrastructural development.
The CJN was speaking in Bauchi Thursday at the foundation laying ceremony of the Bauchi Judicial division of the National Industrial Court Complex where he said that the event is not lost on stakeholders in the justice, labour, employment and industrial relations sectors of our national life.
“The ceremony we are holding today has, without any modicum of doubt, raised the stake and inched us closer to realistic attainment of our goal which is to bring justice delivery to the doorsteps of our people,”he said.
Muhammad held the view that when the edifice was completed, it would no longer be necessary for lawyers and litigants to travel long distances in order to prosecute their cases, stressing “We are more than ever ready to deliver within the constitutional mandate of the judiciary”.
He assured of the judiciary continued support to the courts in improving the working conditions of judges and members of staff of various courts, and ensure that employment, labour and industrial relations and workplace related disputes are resolved quickly and without hurting existing working relationships.
Justice Muhammad also expressed belief that the availability of a forum for quick, effective and efficient resolution to disputes will attract the confidence of investors in Bauchi state. Governor Bala Mohammed had earlier noted that the Industrial Court is saddled with the responsibility of settling disputes between the employers and employees, as well as promote industrial harmony, and enhance relationship between them. Mohammed, who was represented by his deputy,
Senator Baba Salihu Tela, commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Industrial Court for their efforts in ensuring the construction of the permanent edifice of the Court in Bauchi which would would be conducive for lawyers and litigants to prosecute their cases. Also speaking, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria,
Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip said that the expansion of the court to Bauchi followed the cooperation and assistance of the state government, without which it would be difficult to actualize the vision of bringing justice delivery to the door steps of the people