YENAGOA — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Benit Integrated Services Limited (BIS), has held the closing ceremony of its Skill Acquisition Programme for participants drawn from Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
The event took place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (IITH), along AIT/Opolo Road, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Participants were trained across five key areas: Artificial Intelligence, Smart Automation, Interior Decoration, Digital Economy, and Creative Enterprise Skills.
In his opening remarks, the Rector of the Institute, Prof. Apuega Arikawei, thanked NCDMB and BIS for the initiative to train youths, particularly those of Sagbama and Ekeremor extraction, to acquire relevant skills in a world increasingly driven by digital literacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, NCDMB representative Engr. T.K. Cash and BIS CEO, Chief Gloria Itoko, commended participants for their commitment throughout the training. They urged beneficiaries against selling their start-up packs, encouraging them instead to put both the packs and the skills acquired to productive use, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth within their respective local government areas and Bayelsa State at large.
The organisers also appreciated the management of IITH for providing the venue and an enabling environment for the training.
The Skill Acquisition Programme aligns with the Federal Government's drive to equip youths and community members with 21st-century skills in technology, creativity and entrepreneurship, and forms part of NCDMB's broader mandate to build local capacity and promote the participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry and the wider economy.
Participants expressed appreciation to NCDMB, BIS and the Institute for the opportunity, saying the training had equipped them to become self-reliant and potential employers of labour.
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates and start-up packs to participants. The event also featured a series of awards, ranging from Best Participant to Most Punctual Participant, accompanied by incentives.
#NCDMB #BenitIntegratedServices #SagbamaLGA #EkeremorLGA #BayelsaState #AIDigitalSkills #SkillAcquisition #IITH #Yenagoa #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalEconomy #NigerDeltaDevelopment
