has sent 250 youths from the
state in a bid to patronize the
academy established by the
former Niger Delta militant, Asari
Dokubo, one of President
Jonathan’s supporters for his re-
election bid in 2015 polls.
The scheme was announced in
Yenegoa at a reception for 200
Bayelsa graduates of a six-month
agricultural training programme at
the Songhai Integrated System,
Cotonou.
The training programme on
automobile technology,
cinematography, photography and
design will be held at the Amachree
Royal Academy, Benin Republic,
which is owned by the ex-militant
leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.
The 250 trainees would depart for
Benin Republic on December 1,
2013. The cost of the project was
not disclosed.
At the reception, which also
doubled as a send-off orientation
for the 250 youths going for the
vocational training, Gov. Seriake
Dickson declared his
administration’s commitment to
youth empowerment, and charged
them to take their training
seriously.
The State Commissioner for
Agriculture, Dr. Thomas
Commander, congratulated the
graduates for the successful
completion of the programme in
spite of some challenges.
He expressed the state
government’s desire to engage
some of the graduands, but
disclosed that those who intend to
be self-reliant, would be encouraged
and supported by the government.
It would be recalled that the ex-
militant leader, Dokubo, had a
brush with the authorities in Benin
Republic last week, but was
released days later following the
intervention of Nigeria leader
Goodluck Jonathan.
