Nabilu Balarabe
Jalingo – Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Friday said 67 officials in the state would soon leave for Kenya to acquire training on modern water production and distribution.
Ishaku spoke in Jalingo while bidding farewell to the officials made up of chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, ICT specialists, accountants and sociologists.
He said 50 of the officials were fresh graduates while 17 were staff of the State Water Supply Agency.
The governor said on completion of the training, the officials would effectively handle the N5.8 billion state water project supported by the African Development Bank.
Ishaku said Kenya had built modern water processing system that even pipe leakages could be monitored by computers.
He urged the contingent to pay attention to what they would learn in Kenya and warned them against engaging in social vices.
Commissioner for Water resources, Mr Emmanuel Gowon, said the officials were selected after a rigorous screening.
Gowon said the training would last for six weeks and the first batch of the trainees would be leaving for Kenya on Sunday while two other batches would follow shortly after.
He noted that although the 50 fresh hands would add to the water agency’s workforce, the total staff the agency required was about 500 to properly handle the giant water project.
The commissioner said the trainees would add value to the activities of the agency especially in handling the computerised water dispensing kiosks built in Jalingo.
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