The Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State, Hon. Prince Abdullahi Momodu, has indicated interest in supporting an upcoming vocational empowerment training programme, organised by the Centre for Moral Value and Justice, that is aimed at tackling youth unemployment and insecurity in Esan Central Local Government Area, saying; "...in tackling youth unemployment, we must be pragmatic and intentional, as an idle mind is the devil's workshop".
"When the mind of our youths are idle, they are tempted to involve themselves in criminal activities. This is what we are trying to avert. We must continue to engage our youths in productive activities so they don't become nuisance to the society".
"...our Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has created an environment to discourage criminalities. There must be a concerted effort to keep our youth away from criminal activities".
Speaking further on the programme, Hon. Prince Momodu said, his administration will ensure that a large number of youths from Esan Central participate in the skills acquisition initiative.
Concluding, the Esan Central Local Government Boss said; "...Empowering our youths with practical skills is critical to making them economically productive and reducing their vulnerability to criminal activities,”
In a chat with Comrade Sylvester Inegbenehi, the convener of the programme, organised by the Centre for Moral Value and Justice, in collaboration with the Edo State Ministry for Public Safety and Security, Comrade Inegbenehi said; "... Governor Monday Okpebholo has put in place the enabling environment, including the legal framework, to check criminal activities in Edo state".
"Today, cultism, Kidnappings and related crimes, that were rampant in the state, are gradually being forgotten. However, our concern, is keeping the youths in Edo state engaged, so they are not tempted to go into criminal activities. This is how we can sustain the relative peaceful atmosphere that our governor has created with the introduction of the requisite legal and other policies".
"I am happy that the Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area, Hon. Prince Abdullahi Momodu, is in support of our initiative. We are going into further discussion with him on strategic and practical implementation of our activities, especially as the programme is designed to create employment opportunities for young people and complement the efforts of the Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, to address insecurity in the state".
Finally, Comrade Inegbenehi, who commended Hon. Prince Momodu for his zeal and passion to transform the youth in Esan Central local government area, by supporting the initiative, also urged other local government Chairmen to key into the gesture, saying, the flag-off ceremony will be coming up on the 6th of October 2026 at the Esan west local government secretariat Hall.
The training of Edo youth in skills acquisition, will be facilitated by the Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen, a body affiliated with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
To ease accessibility, the programme has been discentralised, so it can take place at the same time in other local government areas in Edo state.
