The governor gave the charge at the 2nd Combined Convocation of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku.

He pointed out that entrepreneurship was the key to unlocking the doors of prosperity and personal fulfilment.

According to Okowa, the reality of today’s turbulent economy was that even the best graduates were likely to be without a job for relatively long periods of time after graduation.

The solution to the problem, he said, was in job creation through entrepreneurship.

“This is why, as a government, we have made entrepreneurship training the pivot of our educational policy and job creation programmes.

“In this new world characterised by dazzling speed and rapid change, graduates who excel are those whose best skill is thinking outside the box; be prepared to learn new things and acquire new skills.

“As I always say, graduation does not mean the end of learning; it just means you are now responsible for your own learning; so, invest time, energy and resources to acquire skills that will put you on the path of profitable entrepreneurship.

“Avail yourself of the wealth of online education available free of charge; in an economy on a growth curve, opportunities abound for new ideas and businesses.

“Pay attention to the needs of the society and find creative means to address those needs; money gravitates towards those who solve problems for others,” he said.

The governor congratulated the graduands and management of the institution, and recalled that “on assumption of office in 2015, I announced that I would only attend the convocation of any university or polytechnic if the certificates and transcripts of the graduates were ready for immediate collection.

“It gives me great pleasure that the certificates and transcripts of graduates from the 2013/2014 through to the 2018/2019 academic sessions are ready for distribution after this ceremony,” said Okowa.

He announced the grant of N50 million for the development of entrepreneurship units of the institution.

Okowa also announced the appointment of one of the graduands, Francis Osedume, as a Special Assistant to him, for the leadership role he played as one of the leaders of the students of the  institution.

Earlier, Chairman of the Governing Council of the school, Dr. Festus Okubor, listed its achievements and thanked the governor for his administration’s support for the growth of education in the state.

In her speech, Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, said that 9,359 Ordinary National Diplomas and 11, 574 Higher National Diplomas were conferred on graduands.

She added that 241 distinctions were recorded in the results, of which 96 were in OND and 145 in HND.

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The governor made the call on Wednesday during an on-the-spot inspection of facilities at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.

Impressed by the achievements recorded in the skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes of the institution, the governor said that from this year, the best fifty graduating students in skill acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes would be empowered to set up their businesses.

“I have encouraged all higher institution in the country to ensure that no student leaves the institution without requisite training in entrepreneurship development,” the governor said, adding, “if we strengthen skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development, we will have creators of jobs, creators of wealth as graduates in the new Nigeria.”

He continued, “a new narrative can come out from Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, by utilising the knowledge acquired with hands and brains which is very important for you to succeed in modern Nigeria; the best skilled students will be empowered by the state government to be able to start on their own and I want to state it here that the best fifty students which will be taken from different departments will be equipped to start their own businesses.”

“The empowerment is to fully provide the basic needs and we hope that they will be role models; a minimum of fifty students will be equipped to start their own businesses starting from this year; we want to also, challenge ourselves in this Polytechnic to provide instruments and equipment that will be used locally to better the lives of our people,” he stated.

The governor emphasised that “the graduates should be proud of their alma mater and the institution in the next four years should be proud of their graduates.”

While commending the Governing Council, Management and Staff of the Polytechnic for their transformational efforts, Governor Okowa also urged students of the institutions to desist from joining any form of secret cult but work towards building a better future for themselves.

He said “if you are thinking right and working very hard, you will be what you want to be; think about your future – ten years, five years from now, what will you be?”

The Chairman, Governing Council and the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Festus Okubor, and Prof. Stella Chiemeke, respectively, in their separate addresses, thanked Governor Okowa for his administration’s commitment to the development of institutions of higher learning in the state by providing the needed infrastructure and also, encouraging the youths to build a better future for themselves through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes.

The governor was taken round the welding workshop, entrepreneurship and skill acquisition department, Mass Communication studio, among others.

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