Twenty youths from Bayelsa State who traveled to Thailand to acquire training in fashion designing and dress-making have completed their training and returned to Yenagoa, the state capital.

Receiving the youths at Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Timipre Sylva said he was not only gratified that they all returned safely, but that they successfully completed their programmes in record time.

Sylva assured that government would do everything to ensure that the training the youths acquired would be beneficial to the people of the state.

He said one way to absorb the 20 dress making and fashion design graduates would be to establish a garment industry in the state. The governor advised them to be creative and to strive to make a name for themselves.

Director-General of the State Micro-Credit Administration Agency, Mr. Thom Owugha, revealed that the original intention was to train 10 of the youths in fashion designing and the other 10 in dress making but that at the end, all 20 of them received training in both trades.

He explained that despite cultural and language barriers, the youths undertook a third specialised course in modeling, make-up artistry, personality development, social manner and art of communication and successfully completed all three courses within record time.

Owugha said, with the training the youths have acquired, they are adequately prepared for any challenge in the areas of fashion design and dress-making.

The Director-General said the youths were carefully selected by a committee comprising fashion designers and staff of his agency, adding that all 20 youths with a minimum qualification of secondary school certificate, have a background in tailoring.

Also speaking, one of the youths, Ms. Binalayefa Okereke, lauded the governor for the skills acquisition initiative and pledged that the funds spent on their training will not be a waste because they are ready to make a name for themselves and the state.

She said the issue of language was a severe challenge but expressed gratitude that with the support of the state government and determination on their part, they were able to complete three distinct programmes on schedule.

The training programme, facilitated by the Bayelsa State Micro-Credit Administration Agency, took place at the Kalawin International Fashion School, Bangkok, Thailand.