KIKUUBE-198 youth from Kikuube district who acquired vocational skills in disciplines such as agriculture, construction, and tourism were passed out last Friday and some are expected to take advantage of the opportunities in the oil and gas.
According to the graduation list, 79 youth trained in poultry, piggery, nursery bed raising and management, and fisheries.
On the other hand, 60 youth trained in, and hospitality while hairdressing, tailoring while the construction sector had 60 youth who graduated in building, welding and metal fabrications, and carpentry.
The youth underwent the training courtesy of Uganda Rural Development Programme [URDT], a non-government organisation operating in Bunyoro Sub-region where activities are in high gear to drill Uganda’s first oil by 2025.
Robert Katabazi the director of education and training at URDT, said the youth were trained under the Youth Works Project with funding from Mastercard Foundation.
He said the programme is being implemented in 20 districts such as Kikuube, Hoima, Kagadi, Kyankwanzi, Kiboga, Mubende, Kiryandongo, and Masindi among others.
He added that the five-year project which started in 2020 targets school dropouts to help them become job creators rather than job seekers.
The project planned to end in 2025, aims to provide hands-on skills to 70,000 beneficiaries, whereby 70 percent are female of whom 5 percent are PWDs and 30 percent refugees.
Katabazi noted that URDT was granted the project on the recommendation of the government following a discussion between President Museveni and the founder of URDT and Ashoka Fellow, Dr Mwalimu Musheshe.
Peter Banura, the Kikuube district chairperson commended URDT for the programme, saying that the initiative has demystified the poor negative attitude that the public has towards vocational skills education.
He says that vocational skills development is the way to go to address the challenge of unemployment in the region and the country in general.
Banura added that there is a need for the sensitization of the public to recognize the importance of vocation development.
Speaking as chief guest at the function which was held at Sir Tito Winyi Primary School in Kiziranfumbi Sub-county in Kikuube district on Friday, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner, Amlan Tumusiime commended URDT for initiating the project that gives the youth life skills.
He noted many youth who dropped out of school due to the impacts of COVID-19 are stuck in the villages, adding they need to be empowered with skills to be self-reliant.
He noted that the training is going to bridge such and challenged the graduates to focus on issues of standards and quality service as they move the labour market.
He noted the training has come at the right time when oil and gas industry is looking for skilled labour and quality services, adding that the skills they acquired during the training will help them get opportunities in the sector.
He noted the oil companies need food, goat meat, pork, chicken meat, accommodations and welders and emphasised that such services must be of good standards if the youth are to get business opportunities.
https://thecooperator.news/oyam-emyooga-beneficiaries-demand-business-skills-training/
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