By Okidi Patrick/ NORTHERN UGANDA CORRESPONDENT.
GULU: There is a very high level of excitement as innovative and creative youths are excelling in various income generating activities like ;soaps making, shampoo, liquid soaps,jik, petroleum jelly, shoes polish making ,cakes, chocolate among others necessities in Gulu district .
The youth according to Deputy RDC Gulu while addressing the media on Tuesday, they are promising to be job creators but not job seekers any more.
The youth who attained a vocational skills training with support from USAID as part of their income generating activity (IGA), were interacting On Tuesday 24th, October 2023, with the Deputy RDC Gulu district,Mr Okidi James Cosmas who paid a courtesy to their premises called “Calvary chemical merchandise” at Vanguard.
He shared a number of take home messages via what he learnt from these organised responsible youth.
Okidi Cosmas noted that,in their interesting interactions with these youth,they confirmed to him that, the business is now employing over 20 youths both girls and boys, hence solving the problem of rampant unemployment which is now very common among the youth.
However, the youth who are faced with some challenges, voiced their concerns about the loop holes they are facing including lack of better machine for greater production, start up capital and above all, the problem of clearance from URA among others.
When responding to their challenges,the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Gulu district ,encouraged them to embrace the current ongoing government programs such as Emyooga,Youth livelihood programs(YLP), PDM among others to improve on their productivity level and status.
” We must avoid borrowing from money lenders with high interest rates”, Deputy RDC Cosmas advised.
He appealed for support from any well-wishers, as this would be a great source of a very wonderful employment opportunity to the Youths.
Deputy RDC Okidi noted that, apart from the above venture, they are also offering training of young people to acquire skills and knowledge that will make youths to become job creators and not job seekers in the nearby future.
“As government, we are aware that vocational education and training is what can give real answers to the economic questions facing Ugandan young people”, DRDC Cosmas James stressed.
“I want to encourage the young people who are there in the community to come out and join skills training for ready income”, Cosmas added.
The Government of Uganda under the visionary leadership of His Excellency General Yowwei Museveni Kaguta,have created very many vocational institutions countrywide and further constructed 18 presidential industrial Hubs commonly known as Presidential youths skilling centre, in all the 18 regions which is now providing free education to our Youths.