By Ewere Okonta
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ewereokonta20@gmail.com
www.ewereokontablog.org.ng
Agbor, Delta State — The third week of the Techpreneurship Programme, a transformative digital skills initiative powered by the D-Peterson Foundation in partnership with the University of Delta, Agbor (UNIDEL), recorded a significant milestone today as it officially welcomed community youths into the fold. This marked their first day of training, with about 50 young people from the Ika community and its environs participating in the session with visible excitement and gratitude.
Founded by Dr. Donald Peterson, the Special Adviser to the Delta State Government on Entrepreneurship Development, the Techpreneurship Programme is a bold step towards equipping young Nigerians with globally relevant tech skills—completely free of charge. The initiative reflects Dr. Peterson’s passionate commitment to youth empowerment, job creation, and inclusive development through technology.
While students of UNIDEL commenced their training three weeks ago, today’s session for the community youths represents a deliberate effort by the organisers to extend the programme’s benefits beyond the university campus, directly into the host community. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants expressing hope that the programme would be a turning point in their lives and careers.
For a start, the curriculum is focused on three in-demand packages:
• Digital Marketing
• Design School
• Data Analytics
These skill areas were carefully curated to ensure that participants not only gain valuable knowledge but are also positioned to become job creators and self-sustaining entrepreneurs in today’s digital economy.
One of the programme’s standout features is the issuance of a certificate of participation upon completion of the three-month training cycle. This will serve as a formal recognition of skills acquired and a valuable addition to the participants’ personal and professional portfolios.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Delta, Agbor, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, has been a pillar of support since the programme’s inception. Her visionary leadership and that of her dedicated management team have created an enabling environment for the smooth execution of the training sessions. Prof. Chiemeke has consistently emphasized the university’s commitment to community development and youth empowerment, and her endorsement of the programme has added significant credibility to the partnership.
In a statement, a coordinator from the D-Peterson Foundation praised the synergy between the foundation and UNIDEL, noting that such collaborations are vital for building the future of Nigeria. “This is not just a training; it is a movement to democratize access to digital knowledge. With the active involvement of the university’s leadership and the state government, we are planting seeds of transformation,” the coordinator said.
As the training continues over the coming weeks, both UNIDEL students and community youths will be immersed in hands-on learning, mentorship, real-time project development, and collaborative teamwork, all tailored to build confidence, competence, and creativity in the tech space.
The programme is envisioned as a springboard for tech-driven entrepreneurship in Delta State, and with the successful onboarding of the community youths, it has now entered a more inclusive and impactful phase.
Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He is a member of #TeamPeterson. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor.