By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh
The Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer and Head of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof. Eric Eboh, has disclosed some institutional development tools developed and already being applied by the bureau to ensure organizational and programme sustainability into the future.
Prof Eboh made the disclosure during the Graduation Ceremony organized by the bureau for 1,000 beneficiaries of the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2020/2021 Programme Cycle.
During the Graduation Ceremony which marked the end of the 2020/2021 STEP and YAGEP Cycle, he said the sustainability tools were four.
The first sustainability tool is an online programme management information system (MIS) which has two platforms.
Number one Platform, he explained, is the job creation website [deltastatejobcreation.ng] while Platform two is the Digital Programme Portal, an open-access online platform [deltastatejobcreation.net].
According to him, the portal contains key programme information including databank of 6,074 beneficiaries from inception of the job and wealth creation bureau to date, databank of all trainers, training tools (both manuals and audiovisuals), enterprise starter pack checklist and programme flow chart. He described the portal as a One-Stop-Shop of information and knowledge resources for timeless learning and citation.
He explained that the portal could be accessed online without any passcode, which underscored the transparency, credibility and integrity of the job creation programmes, in line with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s principle of accountability to the people.
The Job and Wealth Creation Bureau boss listed the Job Creation Magazine series published since 2015 as the second sustainability tool. “This magazine series has accomplished eight editions and the most recent was published in November of last year. The magazine series is the primary channel for documentation, dissemination and feedback on activities, progress, achievements and impacts of job creation programmes,” he remarked.
He gave the third sustainability tool as the satellite-based digital survey map of all verified YAGEP farm enterprises throughout the state. In his words, “This digital map is an interactive electronic dashboard which shows the GPS location of verified YAGEP farm enterprise together with details of enterprises including names and contacts of owners and type of enterprise. By this satellite-based digital map, all existing YAGEP farm enterprises can be located, viewed and contacted online from any part of the world.”
He concluded that the fourth sustainability tool is the Five-Year Masterplan of Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, which was driven by the legal enactment establishing the bureau by the Delta State House of Assembly.
He pointed out that the Masterplan would provide the roadmap and signposts for enhancing the relevance, impacts and sustainability of the job creation model into the future.
