Okowa’s economic policies‘ll benefit Deltans- Odogwu

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA- FOLLOWING the economic policies formulated by Delta State Governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, a grassroots politician, Hon Tam Odogwu, has expressed hope that Deltans will benefit from them and their living standard enhanced.

Odogwu made this assertion while appraising effort made by the Okowa led administration in Delta State to make life meaningful for the people, which he highlighted some key economic programmes for the grassroots people, which he stated that these policies were capable of tackling the challenges the people currently contends with.

He said: “We at the grassroots are very happy with the pragmatic steps taken by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to positively impact on the rural populace with meaningful economic policies and Deltans will benefit immensely. We at the grassroots are in support of these programmes and pray for successful implementation.

“The SMART economics policy is a step in the right direction that is result orientated and will help tackle the economic challenges in Delta State. The agenda is currently engaging a lot of youths through the Skill Training and Entrepreneurship Programme, STEP.

“We also commend the Governor and his team of administrators under STEP to empower 322 trainees with starter packs for small scale business after three months training under this programme on vocational skill, entrepreneurship, tiling, event management and decoration, plastics, and interlocking.

“And the government talking about another second badge to receive their empowerment next week, and all these is to train and also for trainees to create jobs for other young people in the state, and drastically reduce unemployment.

“Also, take a look on the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme, YAGEP, in fact, it is a visionary economic policy that will transform the agricultural sector in the State, and that will curb the menace of unemployment in the State. Another commendable economic policy is the State Employment and Expenditure For Results, SEEFOR, which is also playing a supplementary role in the SMART agenda.”

However, Odogwu called on Deltans to see themselves as stakeholders in the government and should come up with useful suggestions and also criticisms that will contribute to the development of the state. He also urged some persons in the political class in the State not to be antagonistic and hostile to government policies and destructive in their action against their perceived enemies in government.

He said such attitude will not help the peace and development of the State, rather should be politically matured and disciplined to add value to what the government is doing as Delta belongs to all sons and daughters of the State.