Skills Centre Tantita Train 1,500 Bayelsa Youths In New Skills

No fewer than 1,500 Bayelsa youths have completed a two-month digital and vocational skills programme aimed at improving their enterprise and business prospects, under an initiative created and implemented by Africa’s Hub for Skills & Enterprise Development (AHSED), in partnership with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited.

The graduation ceremony, held at Ijaw House in Yenagoa to mark this year’s World Youth Skills Day, saw many graduates already translating their training into tangible economic gains. Several participants told the audience they had secured work, attracted paying clients, or launched small businesses before the programme officially ended, while others displayed products developed during the training.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Skills Centre, Mr Wisdom Aghoghovwia, described the programme as proof that sustained investment in youth development yields immediate and lasting returns. He noted that the initiative builds on the success of similar projects in Delta State, reinforcing the partners’ long-term commitment to human capital development across the Niger Delta.

“What we are witnessing today is the tangible result of deliberate investment in our young people. Through Project SSE in Delta State and now the Future Skills Programme in Bayelsa, Tantita and Maton have changed thousands of lives,” Aghoghovwia said.

The training covered a broad spectrum of in-demand skills, including artificial intelligence, solar installation, digital marketing, graphic design, website development, photography, videography and event planning. Participants also acquired hands-on vocational expertise in tailoring, catering, shoe and bag making, makeup and microblading, nail technology, candle making, and the production of household cleaning agents.

The Administration Manager of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Ms Daisy Jaja, who represented the company’s Managing Director, High Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi, urged the graduates to channel their skills into community development. She emphasised that sustainable security is rooted in economic opportunity, not enforcement alone.

“True security is built when young people have opportunities, skills and hope. We urge you to use what you have learnt to build businesses that will outlive you, create jobs for others, shun oil theft and pipeline vandalism, and lead your communities with integrity,” Jaja added.

The event also featured panel discussions with officials from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bayelsa State Enterprise Development Centre, who offered guidance on entrepreneurship, business sustainability, and available government support. Certificates were presented to the graduates, with outstanding trainers and participants receiving special awards during the ceremony.

According to the organisers, outstanding graduates will receive starter packs aligned with their areas of training, including laptops, iPads, sewing machines, ovens, catering equipment and solar installation toolkits, ensuring they have the practical tools to immediately apply their new skills in the marketplace.