Carribean University offers scholarships to 10 Niger Delta’s ex-militants
The Carribean University, Trininda and Tobago has offered scholarship up to Masters level to 10 Niger Delta’s ex-militants for excellent performance.
The 10 were part of the 57 ex-militants that were sent to National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) in Trinidad and Tobago by the Federal Government under the amnesty-training and rehabilitation programme for the Niger Delta youths.
This is the first time the skill centre established 64 year ago is awarding scholarship to its trainees.
The training of the 57 Nigerians cost the Federal Government of Nigeria over $6 million. They have been equipped with various skills which they would use especially in the oil and gas sector either as employees or entrepreneurs.
They are the first group of trainees from the programme who are now certified in the areas of Automotive Service Maintenance, Heavy Equipment Operations and Millwright and Shielded Metal Arc Wielding.
President Goodluck Jonathan who concluded his two day visit to the country on Wednesday reminded the graduating youth that of the importance of education as he noted that the country will only be handed over to the youths who are not only educated, but committed and have the requisite training to take Nigeria out of the woods and place her among global players in all critical areas of the economy and development.
Hundred ex-militants were initially penciled for the training with 15 dropped as a result of health challenges and 28 deported for lacking in character and threatening not just Nigeria’s image but also the relations between both countries since.
In his remark, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, assured President Jonathan that her country was pleased to be a part of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme “initiated and implemented by your office to engage young persons from the energy-rich Niger Delta in training and rehabilitation programmes, thereby contributing to the positive development of that region.
“On Wednesday July 25th, the National Energy Skills Centre held a graduation ceremony for its first group of trainees from the programme who are now certified in the areas of Automotive Service Maintenance, Heavy Equipment Operations and Millwright and Shielded Metal Arc Wielding.
“I am confident that the 57 graduates will utilise the skills acquired to enhance the human capital of the Niger Delta. I am informed that another group of approximately 80 trainees are expected to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago and that discussions are underway for the implementation of a similar training model in Nigeria.”