By Jubril Bada

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As part of its initiatives to empower and reduce unemployment among the teeming youths in the state, the Ondo State Government has trained no fewer than 62 youths in  solar and inverter installation.

The graduates were primarily trained to be self-independent and employers of labour through the experience garnered during the five-month training.

The programme spearheaded by the State Government through the Office of Public Utility is in partnership with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and Solar World.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony and presentation of certificates to the graduands held in Akure on Thursday, the Chairman of the occasion and State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Razaq Obe, explained that the development was part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration to build skills and empower individuals and the society as the world moves towards clean energy.

He said many have been trained in this instance, and other phases will follow where young people will learn how to install solar panels, provide solar solutions, renewable solutions, and solve energy problems in communities and rural areas in the state.

According to him, they were trained to make energy usable and to manufacture batteries locally.

Obe maintained that the training will not end, as the graduates will be taken to higher levels with plans for expansion to include another set of youths in the next batch.

“The place we are preparing you for is to make energy, which is the bedrock and foundation of all subsequent development, accessible to everyone. Any society without energy has no civilization,” he stated.

On his part, the Administrative Secretary of the Office of Public Utility, Mr. Samson Adejube, said the skills acquired by the youths would go a long way in creating sources of income for them to live better lives and positively impact society.

While commending the state government for the initiative, Adejube also lauded the trainees for investing their time in skills acquisition, which he noted would have a multifaceted effects on the development of the state and their personalities.

Also, the Administrative Secretary of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, pointed out that the training was born out of the need to strengthen society by encouraging youths to be self-independent.

“It was observed that the state is short of personnel in the renewable energy world, coupled with the adverse effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to the need to encourage development in renewable energy,” she said.

Bayo- IIawole who was formerly Administrative secretary of OPU, added that the next phase will take place in Okitipupa in the Southern Senatorial District, where energy is mostly needed.

The representative of PIND, Mr. Olatokunbo Agbetuyi, described the partnership with the state government on the initiative as a good development to improve the skills of youths and their future.

Trainees Miss Justinah Folorunso and Adewale Adeniran commended the state government for the initiative, saying that the training has actually impacted their lives as they have learned how to convert sunlight into power rather than using conventional petroleum to avoid air pollution.