The Edo State Government has screened not less than 2500 persons drawn from the 18 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state for enrolment into the Public Safety and Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme.
Speaking with journalists, Special Adviser to the Governor/Chairman Strategic Planning and Programme Management Office, Uyi Oduwa-Malaka said the exercise is to recruit youths for surveillance and community policing functions in the state.
She said the screening is for data capture, medical and security checks, so that the right candidates are absolved into the PUWOV scheme to strengthen government’s mechanism in checking crime and public nuisance in the state.
Oduwa-Malaka noted that the programme is part of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s youth empowerment and job creation drive, adding that the successful candidates are being trained at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Okada, Ovia North East LGA.
Coordinator, PUWOV scheme, Mr. Mukhtar Osagie-Yusuf, said the new intakes are undergoing extensive training by the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that they have the right attitude and training to work effectively.
“The enrolment is another proof that Governor Obaseki is a man of his words. The news of this recruitment has been on for a while; it has now come to fruition. However, he will not take you into the programme without training you. So, the new intakes are undergoing training at the NYSC camp in Okada,” he said.
Mukhtar urged the youths to make the best of the opportunity and ensure that they conduct themselves responsibly during the training and thereafter, so they can help in sustaining the positive image of the scheme in the state.
Mr Amadu Kashetu Kingsley and Victor Okgbowa, both of whom are candidates in the screening exercise, thanked the governor for the move to strengthen the PUWOV scheme and prioritizing the participation of youths in community-led initiatives to drive development.
