The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on Monday signed an agreement of N128.7 million with the Delta State to construct a leather production training centre in Asaba.

Governor of Delta State Emmanuel Uduaghan said the foot and leather wear training centre will help in addressing the unemployment problem in the state.

"Job creation is a global challenge and our strategy is to get the youths employed by creating the industries that will in turn create the jobs. We want to move our economy away from oil and we are ready to use our oil wealth to train our people," he said.

Uduaghan said the centre will be built on 2.6 hectares of land.

He said the money is ready for collection by the UNIDO officials who will render management service at the facility. "We will provide security for the people working at the facility," he said.

The UNIDO Country Representative Dr. Patrick Kormawa said: "The leather training and production centre on completion will change the face of business in the state.

"To reduce poverty, you must give opportunity to people to empower themselves and not by giving out handouts."

He said the centre would create jobs for over 2,000 youths in the state.

"UNIDO will partner with foreign designers to ensure the trainees are exposed to the best techniques in the world and produce shoes and leather works that will compete with products from any part of the globe," Kormawa said.