The Delta State Government under the administration of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa has approved free education in the Technical Colleges across the three Senatorial Districts of the State among which include the Agbor Technical College, Agbor. The information was handed down by the team of the Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board (DSTVEB) during her schedule advocacy visit to Agbor Community on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
It was gathered that Governor Okowa whose effort centered on improving Delta State Technical Colleges and Vocational Centers, creating requisite skills to Deltans that will make them employable and employer of labour has also introduced WAEC for the junior class of the Colleges and had made it free for parents and guardians to train their children/wards.
It is worthy of note that graduands of the technical colleges and vocational centers stand to benefit starter packs at the end of their programme.
However, the visitors among who include the Board Chairman, Mrs. Clara Obanor, first member of the Board, Engr. Smart Ikem and the Principal of Agbor Technical College, Rev. J.E. Owabor were received by the Executive of Agbor Community Union under the leadership of Mr. Larry Onyechie.
The duo of Mrs. Obanor and Engr. Ikem in their separate address encouraged the Union to key into the technical education revolution particularly in Agbor Technical College by encouraging their wards to enroll in the newly revamped technical school.
They said the need for the people of Ika Communities to maximally utilize the facilities available at the College is imperative as government had invested huge fund to revamp the school. They disclosed that the technical school has hostels for students and offers certificates to vocational students at the end of their programmes.
According to Engr. Ikem, “attending technical school is more profitable for our children because apart from teaching relevant subjects in the conventional secondary schools, the technical schools also teaches the acquisition of relevant skills that will make the student more relevant to themselves and the society after graduation.
“We often time, hear that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop but in my own view, it is not the idle mind but an idle hand because if a person does not have a skill hence, the hand is idle and it sends signal to the mind which the brain would begin to think of what to do to have money and before you know it, evil will be given birth to. Therefore, we need to address it.”
He lamented that majority of Ika youths risks their lives to cross through the Mediterranean sea to get to Europe and along the line may get drawn in the sea, adding that the successful ones because they have no skill will either become prostitute or fraudsters.
However, he noted that if the able bodied men and women could plunge themselves into the acquisition of relevant skills, it will in turn empower them to be viable and become artisans and technocrats so that at the end, the society will earn legitimate dollars and pounds rather than the other way round.
Meanwhile, the Acting President-General of Agbor Community in his vote of thanks assured the Board of their maximum support in spreading the good news across the 52 communities of Agbor kingdom towards enrolling and utilizing the facilities on ground at Agbor Technical College. He appreciated Governor Okowa for revamping the technical Colleges amidst his optimism that the governor would embark on palliative repair on the road to Agbor Technical College as soon as the rain gives way in October. He thanked the Board members and also wished them safe journey back to their respective homes.