Revamped Amelo Technical Institute graduates 80 in vocational skills

ADJUMANI, UGANDA: Amelo Technical Institute in Pakele sub-county, Adjumani district over the weekend awarded certificates of completion to 80 students who completed a three-month training in agriculture and agri-business-related courses.

The training was fully sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) program which is funded by the European Union.

The learners are part of 160 youths selected under the DINU program be trained at the institute from five districts in Northern Uganda.

The principal of Amelo Technical Institute Patrick Ejorm said out of the 160 youths taken for the program, 80 of them were able to complete successfully adding that this has raised the hopes of the stakeholder after many partners withdrew their support from the institution in the past.

“The enrollment is now going up, the goodwill from stakeholders towards the institution has improved and we are now getting a lot of support from the community and appropriate donor support,” Ejorm said.

Ms Cecilia Avor who was awarded a certificate in horticulture says life will not be the same again for her since she has been donated all the tools for horticultural formworks plans to indulge in backyard gardening of tomatoes and onions.

“I want to put the skills I have acquired into use and advance to another level so that I will impact positively on my peers” Avor stated.

Sam Atidri, a youth from Moyo district has selected cassava growing which he notes is a profitable enterprise which he is quite sure will change his life in the shortest period since it is a lucrative enterprise.

The Adjumani district Planner who doubles as the focal person for DINU Adjumani Mr Moni Fred called upon the youth to engage in meaningful production so as to increase their income and savings and carefully invest in the business.

Moini said Amelo is one of the eight Technical Vocational Education Training Institutes (TVETs) that OPM has contracted to train a total of 1,300 youths in agriculture and agri-business-related areas to promote employability and income-generating opportunities for the youth in Northern Uganda.

The other Technical Vocational Education Training Centers include Lokopio Hills, Franciscan Brothers ADRAA Agriculture College, Omugo Agro Technical Institute, Ave Maria Vocational Training & Youth Development Centre, Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre, Kotido Technical Institute, and Nakapiripirit Technical Institute.

“Every Technical Vocational Education Training Center has been awarded a grant contract of about Shs220 million to conduct the skills development and training programs in key areas such as horticulture, crop & animal husbandry, beekeeping, agro-input supply management, tree nursery operation, and carpentry” Moini added

The training also includes an apprenticeship and start-up kits for the trained youth to enable them to practice the skills as well as set up small businesses in their families and communities.

 The Adjumani district vice chairman Mr. Kaijuka Richard reminded the Youth in Northern Uganda to embrace skills training and improve their involvement in agriculture productivity in the era of agriculture modernization.

He appealed to the stakeholders to support the current administration to ensure the institution is used to transform many youths who are unable to continue their education.

The board chairperson of Amelo Mr Simon Mori said that they have now started seeing hope in Amelo after years of maladministration adding that these lot of students will act as ambassadors for the institute.

Amelo Technical Institute was established in 2014 the Ministry of Education and Sports under the Business Technical Vocational Education Training (BTVET)program.

The Institute experienced maladministration under the supervision of the former principal Kamba Charles where corruption became a management tool, but there is now a ray of hope as the Institute has received a vibrant headship.