393 EX-MILITANTS GRADUATE FROM TRAINING CENTRES IN GHANA

November 1, 2012 by Fidelis Soriwei 6 Comments

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has said 393 ex-militants undergoing reintegration under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from training centres in Ghana.

According to him, the ex-militants were trained in welding and fabrication, agriculture and fish farming, crane operation, maritime and drilling technology.

Thirty-eight of them, he said, were trained in film editing, photography, acting, film directing, cinematography at the National Film and Television Institute, Ghana, while 100 persons were trained as marine mechanics and refrigerator technicians at the Regional Maritime University.

Kuku, who spoke while playing host to the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Oluseyi Onafowokan, added that 200 others graduated from the National Vocational Training Institute, Kumasi, while another 45 trained in electrical installation, welding wood work and carpentry at Koforidua Institute.

He urged the President and the National Assembly to make provision for the Amnesty Office to establish quality training centres in the country.

He said, “We don’t have that mandate to have such centres now but, it is one of the prayers that that we are making to Mr. President. We are also doing so to the National Assembly to see if they can expand our ambit of operations by giving the Amnesty Office, the opportunity of setting up at least three training centres, one in oil and gas, marine technolgy, and basic construction skills.”

Also, Onafowokan commended the President and his aides for effectively implementing the programme, which he said had contributed greatly in reducing criminality in the Niger Delta.

The envoy, who commended the trainees for conducting themselves well during the exercise, urged them to exploit the opportunity offered by the government.

He said, “I like to stress the positive side all the time; the boys are level-headed, they are composed, and they are doing very fine. The other day, I attended the graduation ceremony of some of them in Accra and I was very proud to see those boys having gained something, getting certificates, wearing their academic gowns.”