Hon. Engr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei, member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, has called on young people to take skills acquisition seriously as a pathway to self-sustenance in today’s competitive society where white-collar jobs are increasingly scarce.
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Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Pere Alfred Salvation, at the maiden edition of the SkillUp Bayelsa Convention, a non-governmental organization, held on Saturday at the Oxbow Lake Pavilion in Swali–Yenagoa, Ambaiowei lamented the growing trend of beneficiaries abandoning their training soon after empowerment programmes.
He recalled that successive administrations in Bayelsa State — from Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha to Governor Douye Diri — have invested heavily in vocational training.
He also noted his own constituency empowerment programmes since 2023, which have equipped constituents with modern skills. Yet, he expressed concern that many participants lose interest immediately after receiving starter packs, with some even selling off their equipment at the venue.
According to him, the essence of skills acquisition is to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve technical competence for personal and professional growth. He warned that the culture of “training today, abandonment tomorrow” undermines the entire purpose of such initiatives.
“More often than not, most trainees do not sustain the tempo. The excitement disappears within hours. Some only participate to get starter packs and move on to the next programme. Some even sell their empowerment tools before reaching home,” he stated.
He condemned the attitude as wasteful and urged young people to value self-reliance:
“Having a labour at hand and providing for oneself is a pride to the family and a dignity to one’s self. Begging for survival is low self-esteem and an embarrassment.”
Earlier, the President of SkillUp Bayelsa, Amb. Richard Pere Franklin, emphasized that the initiative was self-driven and not dependent on government funding.
He praised the commitment of participants who bought their own uniforms and ID cards, describing it as proof of their readiness to work.
Franklin, however, challenged elected officials to support youth training with meaningful investment rather than token gestures during election season. He noted that SkillUp Bayelsa has an office in Amassoma, which it funds independently, and disclosed that he personally sponsored 260 youths from his community.
He warned that idleness among youths fuels violence and insecurity:
“The people that kill and fight in Amassoma and Yenagoa do so because they have nothing to do. If our youths are busy with barbing, welding, fashion, or tech services, they won’t be tools for violence.”
He urged Hon. Ambaiowei and other leaders to take decisive action, declaring that accountability for youth development will soon be demanded.
The SkillUp Convention which was in conjunction with World Humanity Commission (WHC), drew approximately 10,000 participants from across the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State, signaling growing interest in self-employment and skills-based empowerment.
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