Some students of Technical College, Ofagbe, Isoko North and riverine communities in Burutu local government areas of Delta have lauded the Employment and Expenditure For Results (SEEFOR) projects in the area.
Our correspondent reports that SEEFOR project is sponsored by the World Bank and European Union in collaboration with Delta state government.
The beneficiaries gave the commendation on Monday at the end of a tour of some of the projects executed by SEEFOR in the area.
The students, who spoke at the Ofagbe Vocational Centre in Isoko North LGA, Delta South Senatorial District, said projects executed by SEEFOR via the donor agencies have transformed the technical and vocational colleges and also created jobs for youths.
According to Mr. Okiroro Johnson, a student at Technical College, Ofagbe, the intervention of SEEFOR by providing adequate learning facilities and conducive environment has made learning of various skills at the institution very easy.
“The provision of these equipment by SEEFOR has helped to improve my level of assimilation as well as gave me the opportunity to execute jobs outside school hours”.
on his part, Mr. Okeoghene Goodluck also of mechanical department, said, “with the intervention of SEEFOR, we have learnt so much within the shortest possible time.
”We can now conveniently dismantle cars, change engine oil, brake pads and fuel without any assistance,” he said.
In his testimony, Mr. Innocent Etugbo, a beneficiary of SEEFOR and a graduate, said he got starter pack from SEEFOR which enabled him set up welding and fabrication shop.
“I was able to get married through the proceeds from this business and I am also now an employer of labour; as I speak, I have 15 boys working under me. I must say I am grateful to God for using SEEFOR to establish me.
Also, the Administrator of Ozoro Vocational Centre in the LGA, Mr. Augustine Asiawhe, said that SEEFOR did a lot in the centre, which was established in 2010 and got a face-lift in 2014 by SEEFOR.
“Through SEEFOR intervention, our students enrolment rose from about 60 students to 180 students because they made the centre viable.
“‘SEEFOR projects have not only impacted on the students of this institution, but also impacted on the lives of the people of this community.
“In 2017, we trained a total number 17 persons from this community and in 2018, we trained 36 of them and most of them have been established in their various businesses,” he said.
Asiawhe, while commending the World Bank, EU and the state government for the intervention programme, appealed for more support, especially in the area of access road to enable the institution grow.
The duo of Messrs Julius Arenerian of Unenurhie and David Okoro of Oviri-Olomu, said their communities chose certain projects, which were executed with the donor agencies contributing 90 percent of the cost, while the benefiting communities raised the balance 10 percent.
Mr Akpuru Solomon, a SEEFOR Supervisor, who supervised the construction of concrete pavement in Torugbene in Burutu LGA, said the project has created job for him and gave him the opportunity of learning various skills as well as training other people in his community.
”I must commend the World Bank, EU and the state government for giving me the opportunity to learn moulding of interlocking, laying of interlocking as well as mixing of cement among others.
“I have a total number of 60 beneficiaries and six supervisors, who are working under me and by the grace of God aside the SEEFOR job, I also handle other jobs which gives me additional money,” he said.
Mr Abdul Ojoboye, Secretary, Tomara Ogbo Cassava Processing group In Ezebiri in Bomadi LGA, said since SEEFOR donated cassava processing machine to the group, farmers Plant and process cassava with ease and get lots of returns on investment.
Our correspondent reports that the completed project sites visited include the science laboratory and examination hall at Unenurhie Secondary School; multi-purpose hall and open market stalls at Oviri-Olomu.
Others are the multi-purpose hall and renovated staff quarters and Corpers’ lodge at Aragba-Orogun; the renovated multi-purpose hall and borehole at Igbuku and others.
