In a move to empower young people in host communities of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta has signed partnership agreements with the Edo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education and the Edo State Skills Development Agency.The agreements, which build on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding between Okomu and PIND, are aimed at advancing youth empowerment and community development through structured skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, and improved access to economic opportunities. The initiative will also expand opportunities for young people across Edo State through PIND’s Youth Employment Program.The broader collaboration between Okomu and PIND is anchored on five key pillars—peace building, market system development, youth employment pathways, access to finance, and access to energy. Under the Youth Employment Pathways component, no fewer than 165 youths from Okomu’s neighbouring communities will benefit from technical and vocational training designed to boost employability and support self-reliance.The partnership with the Edo State Board for Technical and Vocational Education and EdoJobs is expected to play a crucial role in delivering this component through established state-level training systems.Speaking at the signing ceremony in Benin City, Communications Officer at Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Fidelis Olise, described the initiative as a major milestone in the company’s corporate social responsibility drive.“We are glad to have signed an MoU with PIND to implement impactful CSR projects in our neighbouring communities. With this partnership between PIND and these government agencies, we are optimistic that more opportunities are being created for young people in our neighbouring communities and across Edo State,” he said.Also speaking, Programs Director at PIND, Effiong Essien, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration in expanding the organisation’s development footprint.“Although PIND has worked extensively across the Niger Delta, this partnership with Okomu provides an opportunity to extend our proven development models into Edo State, working with relevant government agencies to deliver structured, scalable, and impactful interventions,” he noted.In her remarks, Executive Director of the Benin Technical and Vocational Education Centre, Onomen Briggs, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to youth-focused initiatives.“We remain open to partnerships that promote youth development and community growth in Edo State,” she said.Similarly, Managing Director of EdoJobs, Kerimu Shehu Kelly, commended Okomu and PIND for the initiative and pledged continued support for youth upskilling across the state.With the agreements now formalised, implementation is set to commence with structured training programmes aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment, while promoting inclusive, skill-driven economic development in Okomu’s host communities and across Edo State.
