"I am poised to bring the dividends of democracy to the grassroots in my constituency" - Etanabene ...sets up ICT Training Centre, others

A member representing  Sapele, Okpe and Uvwie in the Federal House of representatives, Hon. Barr. Benedict Etanabene said he was poised to bring the dividends of democracy to the grassroots in his constuency as he set up ICT Training Centre equipped with computers and sewing machines for the training of youths and women generally in his constuency.

Hon. Etanabene stated this on Wednesday while the centre was being commissioned by His Royal Majesty, Dr Emmanuel Sideso Abe I  JP, in Our Lady's High School, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State.

According to him, the ideas of giving stipends to people which would not make enough positive impact on the lives of the people is gone adding that, it is better to train the people in different skills acquisition programmes that would enable them not only take care of themselves but their families and even employers of labour. 

His words: "This is part of decision to bring the dividends of democracy to the grassroots in my constuency. We want to shift from the ideas of giving stipends that will not last 24 hours into creating opportunities for them to care for themselves  and their families"

According to Hon. Etanabene, there are 41 sewing machines for those to be trained in sewing, 31 laptop for those in ICT programme and each of the trainees has been given stipends to make them comfortable while embarking on the training.

Hon. Etanabene said after this batch of trainees, other group of people would be trained - all in the bid to make the people take care of their family. According to him, besides these group of  people, the programme  would be extended to both primary and secondary schools just as he said, sanitation workers would be given apron, people in abattoir, market women among others. He said, there is also  training programme in  fish breeding(agriculture) as the  facilities are already on ground adding that,  those in this category would be able to make  good amount of money after the exercise.

Hon. Etanabene who said the trainees would be closely monitored while on the programme  and after the programme, charged the beneficiary of the programme  to take it seriously to enable it achieve the purpose it is meant. He said, he would  continue to sustain the programme even after he left office as it has been his passion to impact positively on the lives of people from onset.

Also speaking is His Royal Majesty, Dr Emmanuel Sideso  Abe I JP. He expressed gratitude to Hon.Etanabene for deeming it fit for  establishing ICT Training Centre equipped with computers in his domain. According to him, what the Honourable law maker  has done would no doubt, help the trainees to take of themselves and their families. The Royal Father charged the recipients  of the programme  to take it seriously just as he admonished the school authority to take good care of the Centre and its facilities to serve the aims and objectives for which it was set up.

On his part, Rev. Father Dr. Oghenejode Ambrose Abaka who stood in for  Catholic Church Authority expressed gratitude to Hon. Etanabene for establishing the training çentre in Our Lady's High School. He prayed God to protect and bless him to enable him do more for humanity.

In separate interviews, the beneficiaries of the programme  among who are Ward 2, woman leader, Raluchukwu Nwokafor and Ward 6 woman leader, Binitia Juliet, both of Sapele Local Government Area, expressed gratitude Hon. Etanabene for the empowerment programme.They promised to harp on the opportunity to better their  lives and that of their family. They prayed God to protect and bless him to do more for the growth and development of humanity.

The climax of the programme was the prayers offered by Rv. Father Abaka on sewing machines  which was followed by their (machines)  distribution to the recipients.