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Governor Okowa at one of the food banks in Delta.

By Nelson Egware

When the Coronavirus pandemic code named COVID-19, first started from Wuhan in faraway China, many didn’t believe that it will get to Nigeria until the most populous country in Africa recorded her index case, an Italian who flew into the country from Milan on February 24.

Since then, Nigeria has battled the pandemic. As at May 10, 2020, there were a total of 4,399 confirmed cases, 778 treated and discharged successfully while 143 unfortunately died from the deadly virus. Here in Delta, the state recorded its index case on April 7, 2020 but before then the State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, a medical doctor had ordered closure of all entry points to the state and declared a two-week lockdown in the state which was further extended by another two weeks.

As part of the preparations for the fight against the pandemic in Delta, the state set up 11 holding centres, and four isolation and treatment centres at Asaba, Warri and Oghara. Currently, the state has recorded 17 “confirmed cases of the virus; while three were successfully managed and discharged, three others died even before their test results could come out. With the unfortunate demise of the three patients, Delta currently has 11 active cases being managed at the various isolation centres.

During one of his state broadcasts, aside the usual hand washing and use of sanitisers, Governor Okowa had announced the compulsory wearing of face masks in public places as part of the measures to curtail the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the State.

According to the Governor, “I have also specifically stated too that we have already made face masks for our people because we are aware that many of them may not be able to purchase for themselves. We are using the face masks made with cloth because from all research done thus far, it’s obvious that the use of the face masks tends to limit the transmission of the virus and to that extent, we are determined to produce about a million for distribution to our people”. He that “the benefit of the cloth facemasks is that they can be washed and reused.”

Reiterating the Governor’s directive on the compulsory use of face masks, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the virtual State Executive Council meeting said for the government to give effect to the decision on the face mask, the Governor would send an Executive Bill to the House of Assembly for a law on it.

“We are concerned about the lives of our people and a decision to send a bill to the house of assembly to make it compulsory for everyone to wear a face mask before appearing in public was taken. He explained that the decision was based on the fact that, to a large extent, face masks had helped to reduce the spread of the virus, the causative agent of COVID-19.

The Job Creation Office was directed to coordinate the production of face masks by products of the administration’s flagship Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (a.k.a STEPreneurs) and their trainers, State Government Skills Acquisition Centres and other enterprises in fashion design and tailoring. Within three weeks, these trainees completed the production of the one million face masks and were distributed April 29 to the 25 local government areas for onward distribution to Deltans.

Although the coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected many businesses, the story is remarkably different for these STEPreneurs. Obarakpor Nyore, of Merit NY Concept was full of appreciation for Governor Okowa’s “care and concern,” stressing that it was a clear demonstration of “good governance” on the part of Okowa. A delighted, Ohagwa-Nkem Loveth of Joem Signatures, thanked the Gover”Great thanks to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and the Chief Job Creation Officer for sustaining the garment industry through the lockdown.

For Oseri Oyibo of Feno’s Fit Design said: “Let me use this medium to really appreciate our amiable and innovative Governor and the entire Job Creation Office for the opportunity to participate in the production of the one million face masks by the Delta State Government. If China can do it, we can do it better. God bless you all for this wonderful opportunity to work even in this period of idleness.”

Samuel Olutayo, Delta State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) expressed appreciation to the State Government “for the opportunity given to corps members who were trained under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Program (SAED) in tailoring to partake in the production of the face masks. This gave them the opportunity to practice what they learnt. Aside from Delta State that gave such privilege to their corps members, only FCT, Lagos and Ogun states also did same. This really gladdens the heart of the management of the scheme and we are full of encomiums for the leadership of the state.”

For Isawhe Augustine of Ozoro Delta State Vocational Education Centre, Ozoro, it was a “great opportunity to serve all Deltans.” He showered prayers on the Governor for “wisdom and strength to do more.” According to Udi Samuel of De Samotes Mega Fashion, it was both “and opportunity and recognition,” adding that “we look forward to more opportunities like this to join hands to continue creating more wealth while we stand strong on our feet to work hard to realize our vision.”

Delta State’s Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof Eric Eboh said the Governor’s directive to produce face masks through the STEPreneurs and STEP Trainers underscores his commitment to the job creation and economic empowerment of Delta youths. He said with the training, empowerment, mentoring and monitoring given to Deltans under the various empowerment platforms, the Governor has succeeded in improving the income and livelihoods of the various households.

According to Prof Eboh, the free distribution of one million free face masks by the Delta State Government is a further proof of the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that STEPreneurs are not only encouraged to be self-reliant but to also empower others.

Since the launch of Job Creation Scheme in August 2016, a total of 4,274 unemployed youths have been transformed into business owners with some employing as many as five persons. In addition, over, 15,000 persons have also been trained and established in their choice enterprises through the Ministries of Agriculture, Youth Development, Women Affairs and the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise Development Agency.

The multiplier effect is not just that the beneficiaries are now employers of labour, their success stories have spurred other youths in the state to voluntarily embrace farming and skills acquisition as against the chase for white-collar jobs. It also reflects in the intake in admission of students into the various technical colleges and vocational centres scattered across the state.

* Egware, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Delta State Governor, writes from Asaba.