By Philemon Kiprop
West Pokot Governor Professor John Lonyangapuo has asked youth and women to embrace practical skills in a bid to improve their livelihoods.
The governor says given the changes in economic dynamics, the locals should diversify their ways of eking income singling out the need of hands-on skills as enablers to eradicate poverty.
Speaking in Kapenguria during the graduation of 152 individuals who completed an initiative dubbed ‘Skills Improvement Programme’ run by the office of the First Lady in the county, the governor said that the initiative seeks to empower men and women from vulnerable households with different skills that will in turn enable them to venture into self employment and generate income.
“The essence of these practical skills is to empower men and women from vurnerable households with skills that will enable them generate income. This will go a long way in alleviating poverty and giving them decent ways of earning livelihoods,” he remarked.
The first batch of graduates from the programme completed training in tailoring and dress making, hand embroidery training, entrepreneurship, cookery, soap making, financial literacy and book keeping.
Lonyangapuo at the same time said that the department of vocational and technical training has finalized an agreement to administer examination to trainees in seven vocational training institutions in the county.
