Delta holds mentorship programme for youth empowerment beneficiaries ~ Truth Reporters

18 September 2020   |   8:15 am

Delta Government on Thursday organised a "Mentor to Mentee (M2M) Programme" designed to bring the beneficiaries of the youth empowerment schemes together with businessmen and women with proven track records to serve as mentor to them.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Assistant to the Governor, Directorate of Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, Mr Edward Mekwunye, stated that the essence of the programme was to ensure that the success attained at the point of giving starter packs to the beneficiaries was sustained.

According to Mr Mekwunye, "Many of the youths already have relevant technical and professional backgrounds, hence it is considered that their interaction with mentors will provide great motivation for them to stretch their vision towards a greater tomorrow."

The executive assistant who revealed that studies shown that many major businesses failed due to lack of mentorship, said that over 5,000 youths had been trained by the Okowa administration and were currently being mentored in the programme.

He also revealed that the mentors were not selected based on how much money they had but on competence, character and expertise attained, which he noted, were fundamental variables for success in business.

He tasked the mentees to make use of the opportunities they have for a purposeful life, saying that the ball was in their court.

Mr Fidelis Eligbo, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Monitoring and Mentoring, who was a facilitator, said "When business start ups are mentored, 70% of their businesses live beyond five years and doubles the survival rate of non mentored businesses."

A total of 210 Mentees and 14 Mentors were present at the programme held in Asaba.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Tilije, advised the participants to "Find out those associates that are strong minded around you here as Mentees so that you will begin to partner with them."

According to Sir Tilije, "The environment we talk about will determine the people you mingled with, who are your associates, who are your friends who will help you to attain the horizon you want to attain to in life."

He urged the mentees that having an impactful life, layed in their hands, saying that they had to process it, even as he advised them not to procrastinate.

Present at the event were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Girl Child and Empowerment, Mrs Marilyn Okowa - Daramola, the Executive Assistant to Governor on Lands, Mr Frank Esenwah, and former Commissioner for Finance, Chief George Orogun, among others.

The highpoint of the occasion was the signing of mentorship agreement form by the mentees.