FG, Edo Partner on Youth Empowerment, Floats New Waste Management Scheme

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Federal Government has revealed plans to partner Edo state to boost youth empowerment in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones, as not less than 121 youths recently graduated from a capacity building workshop organised for youths in the zones.

Minister of Youths and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who addressed the beneficiaries trained under the National Youth Empowerment Programme (NYEP) at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state, said the programme was intended to encourage entrepreneurship.

The youths were trained on cosmetology, bead making, aquaculture, piggery, cassava processing and value addition, as well as interior decoration and event management.

According to Dalung, “The objective of NYEP is to encourage entrepreneurship among youths as well as provide an avenue for youths from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds to bond and collaborate in proffering solutions to issues affecting the country.”

He added that the NYEP was initiated by the Ministry of Youths and Sports in 2015 to serve as capacity building programme for youths on agro-allied, vocational skills and entrepreneurial skills.

“The empowerment programme is designed to solve the problem of unemployment among youths as it intends to expose youths to skills and knowledge that will make them entrepreneurs. An empowered youth with a sustainable means of livelihood will not only create jobs but also contribute to peace and security in the country.”

Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Hon. Mike Amanokha, commended the federal government for the empowerment programme, noting “The state looks forward to collaborating with the Federal Government to empower more youths in the state.”

Amanokha charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the skills acquired as they have displayed commitment during the course of the programme. “I believe you will put to good use the knowledge and skills acquired,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has said a new waste management scheme will be launched, in April, to monitor the activities of waste managers across the state.

Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Reginald Okun, disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Okun said the new waste management scheme would ensure effective monitoring of activities of waste managers and ensure that the people are better served by the service providers, noting, “Waste managers in the state will be required to register with the state’s waste management board.”

Warning that the state will no longer tolerate the practice where operators go about their activities without following set guidelines, Okun said, “With the new waste management scheme in place, before anyone goes about claiming to be a waste manager in the state, he or she must be certified by the state’s waste management board.”
He added that those who fail to register with the board would be considered as criminals and would be prosecuted, adding, “Those who also patronise these illegal waste managers will also be prosecuted. Individuals and companies are also required to have waste managers in place for evacuation of wastes.”

Okun urged Edo people to support the state government in her effort to control and manage waste effectively. He said, “People must ensure they patronise waste managers who are duly registered. We will continue to focus more effort in sensitising people to develop the right attitude to waste management.”

On the speculation that harmful chemicals are disposed indiscriminately in rivers, Okun said, “The state government monitors the activities of companies, which dispose harmful chemicals, and ensures that such chemicals are disposed adequately and are done in such a way that people’s lives are not threatened.”

“A section of the state’s waste management board is in place to monitor liquid evacuation. It ensures that companies who discharge harmful chemicals evacuate them properly without posing threat on the environment.”
Okun added the state government intends to work with local government councils to ensure effective waste management in major areas and markets across the 18 local councils in the state.