80 youth passed out from Amelo Technical Institute

ADJUMANI-Amelo Technical Institute over the weekend awarded certificates of completion to 80 students who completed a three-month training in agriculture and agri-business-related courses in the first of the two cohorts.

The training was sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister [OPM] under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda [DINU] programme supported by the European Union.

The learners are part of 160 selected youths to be trained at the institute from five districts in Northern Uganda.

The principal of the institute, Patrick Ejorm said out of the 160 youths taken for the program, 80 of them were able to complete the training, adding that this has raised the hopes of the stakeholder after many partners withdrew their support from the institution in the past.

“The enrollment is now going up, the goodwill about the institution has improved and we are now getting a lot of support from the community, we are receiving a lot of donner support,” Ejorm said.

Cecilia Avor from Lamwo district who was one of the youths trained in horticulture said  she would establish a backyard garden to start growing tomatoes, and onions.

“I want to put the skills I have acquired into use so that I don’t forget what I have learned and possibly start getting some income from it,” Avor stated.

Sam Atidri from Moyo district said when he goes back home, he wants to start growing cassava.

“I also want to encourage the other youths in my village who did not get the opportunity to learn from me. I already have two acres for starting,” he said.

The Adjumani district Planner who doubles as the focal person for DINU Adjumani, Moni Fred called upon the youth to engage in meaningful production so as to increase their income and savings.

Moini said Amelo Technical Institute is one of the eight Technical Vocational Education Training Institutes [TVETs] that the OPM has contracted to train a total of 1,300 youths in agriculture and agri-business-related areas to promote employability and income-generating opportunities for the youth in Northern Uganda.

The other TVETs include Lokopio Hills, Franciscan Brothers ADRAA Agriculture College, Omugo Agro Technical Institute, Ave Maria Vocational Training & Youth Development Centre, Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre, Kotido Technical Institute, and Nakapiripirit Technical Institute.

“Every TVET has been awarded a grant contract of about Shs220 million to conduct the skills development and training programs in key areas such as horticulture, crop & animal husbandry, beekeeping, agro-input supply management, tree nursery operation, and carpentry,” Moini added.

The training also includes an apprenticeship and start-up kits for the trained youth to enable them to practice the skills as well as set up small businesses in their families and communities.

The Adjumani district vice chairman, Richard Kaijuka reminded the Youth in Northern Uganda to embrace skills training and improve their involvement in agriculture productivity in the era of agriculture modernisation.

He appealed to the stakeholders to support the current administration to ensure the institution is used to transform many youths who are unable to continue their education.

The institute’s board chairperson, Simon Mori said that they have now started seeing hope in Amelo after years of maladministration adding that these lot of students will act as ambassadors for the institute.

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