Niger Delta Human Development Report - UNDP Nigeria - United ...

Social integration
requires everyone, but
especially marginalized
groups, to participate in
development, and have
access to goods and
services.
Enterprise development also depends
upon technological capacities and fabrication
activities. The Federal Ministry of Industry
provides technological and organizational
support for industrial development,
including agro-allied businesses. The
Ministry has four Industrial Development
Centres, located in Ibadan, Owerri, Zaria
and Bauchi, to develop technological capacities
in an industrial setting. But none
of these serves the core Niger Delta. The
Federal Government’s current blueprint for
industrial development has features that,
if extended to the Niger Delta, could significantly
boost industrial diversification
and sustainability.
It is important that the policy framework
for small and medium enterprises in the
Niger Delta aim at the following:
• establishment of a small and medium
enterprises development agency for
the region;
• identification of a minimum number
of clusters for these enterprises, e.g.,
two per senatorial district for promotion
and support;
• establishment of a regional credit
guarantee scheme;
• establishment of a regional project
development facility to support enterprises
in various spheres; and
• establishment of one industrial development
centre and one industrial nurseries
park/incubator per state to support
small-scale industries.
Goal 5: Mentoring Young Entrepreneurs
Mentoring is a supportive one-on-one relationship
between an accomplished individual
and an aspiring individual to facilitate
the aspirant’s growth. In the Niger
Delta, the specific objectives of mentoring
programmes should be:
• to enable people, particularly women
and youths, to have the requisite professional
skills and experience to participate
in the oil and gas industry and
other economic activities;
• to establish long-term business relationships
between mentored personnel
and their specific industry; and to
provide a framework for theeffective
promotion of local participation, especially
in the oil and gas industry.
The following strategies could be considered.
• Attachment programmes along the
lines of the Student Industrial Work
Experience Scheme in universities and
polytechnics should be developed in
the oil industry and other major industrial/commercial
establishments. The
programmes should target unskilled
and semi-skilled workers required in
the industry. They could vary from four
to six months and serve as a transition
to full employment, based on performance
and commitment.
• Existing skills acquisition centres run
by the government and industry should
be documented. Training activities need
to be standardized. Where necessary,
specialized channels for harmonizing
and exchanging ideas should be developed
to make the skills acquired more
relevant to industry and self-employment
needs.
• Large-scale training of artisans—including
mechanics, bricklayers, shoemakers
and dressmakers—should be
conducted through apprenticeships, as
is done through the National Directorate
of Employment.
• More vocational and technical schools
in each state should provide vocational
training in such areas as computer operation,
draftsmanship, accounting, tanning,
jewellery making, beading, welding,
furniture, cane works, carving,
casting, sculpture, etc.
• The federal and state governments
should convene a meeting of stakeholders
in the Niger Delta, particularly
governments, oil and gas industry operators,
major commercial enterprises
and NGOs, to map out strategies for
implementing direct mentoring
programmes.
166 NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT