The Delta State Government has concluded arrangements to establish a training centre in Asaba, for shoe manufacturing and leather works production.

To this end the state government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to establish a shoe manufacturing and leather works production and training centre in the Asaba.

The centre is expected to spread across 2.6 hectares of land will provide a minimum of 2,000 jobs on completion.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who disclosed this shortly after signing the MoU, said the land had been made available and that UNIDO had released a state counterpart funding of $820,000 for the project.

"The land is in place and the money is ready for collection by UNIDO. Everything is set and the beauty of it all is that it would be managed by UNIDO," the governor said.

He lauded the UNIDO for partnering the state government, noting that it was part of the measures being put in place to achieve the mantra of 'Delta Beyond Oil.' He assured that his administration would provide necessary logistics to make the programme a success.

He added that the project was geared towards providing employment for the youth, declaring that the state will extend the partnership with UNIDO to areas of renewable energy and wastes to wealth projects.

Representative of UNIDO in Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Korma said the partnership would change the face of production of foot wares and leather materials in Nigeria.

He stressed that the project which would be a "centre of excellence for leather works in Nigeria," would reduce poverty in the country.

He commended the governor for working towards enthroning a state that would depend less on oil revenues with the Delta Beyond Oil policy.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation in Delta State, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, said the state was passionate about the programme and was determined to do all it would take to alleviate poverty in the State.