…Begins PDA Training For Engineers

As part of effort to beef up its readiness in project delivery, the Rivers State Ministry of Works has commenced a special training scheme for its newly recruited engineers tagged, “Project Development Academy” (PDA).

The disclosure was made by Commissioner of Works, Dakuku Peterside, at a one month induction training organised by the ministry for 60 newly recruited engineers on Monday in Port Harcourt.

Mr. Peterside said under the PDA scheme, the engineer from the ministry would undergo an intensive one hour lecture that would run through a month to arm them with skills in project monitoring and delivery.

The commissioner noted that the ministry considers capacity building a very serious aspect of project execution, hinting that in the next three months, some of the engineers would go through an evaluation programme.

Calling on the newly recruited staffers to display commitment and hardwork in their job, Peterside asserted that the present administration is poised at overhauling the civil service through manpower training and professionalism.

Peterside called on participants to consciously make effort in developing skills in the area of Information Technology, which he stressed has become indispensable in the field of modern engineering technology.

The works commissioner commended the training consultants, Samuelson Consulting from South Africa for exposing the trainees to international best practices and awarded N50,000 each to the three best engineers.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sir Promise Njiowhor, expressed optimism that the participants are now better prepared to discharge their duties.

Sir Njiowhor pointed out that the challenges in the civil service are high and therefore enjoined the trainees to be determined in order to surmount them.

Earlier, the representative of Samuelson Consultants, Mr. Epelle, lauded  the government for introducing the programme, but however, appealed to the participants not to jettison the knowledge acquired urging them to ensure that their skills are improved continuously.