By Christian ABURIME
In his avowed determination to stem the tide against youth unemployment in the state, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has pledged to assist selected youth trainees with start-up funding for businesses.
The Governor gave the assurance at the launch of the “One Youth, Two Skills Solution” one day workshop.
The workshop organized by Anambra State Ministry of Youth was held at the International Convention Center, Awka which had the theme;
“Raising Smart Entrepreneurs for a Prosperous Anambra State”.
While addressing the teeming youths, Governor Soludo said: “we have come to kick off the commencement of a long journey. The future of Anambra is in your hands.
“We have come to begin a process of productive empowerment in which you teach people how to fish, not giving them fish.
“Politicians and some other people doing what I call phantom charity, sharing bags of rice to youths is not empowerment but rather, giving them food for the day because the next day, they will be hungry.
“We will give you the skill and training. Our agenda is to have one youth with at least two skills. That is the future of Anambra, Nigeria and Africa.
“As I look into your faces, you are ready to go. We will approve more billions in coming years for the development of special skills and programmes we have for our youths.
“Today and tomorrow belongs to you. In Anambra, we are hardworking. The true onye Anambra don’t beg but ask for help to stand on his toes. When he is established, he starts deploying others into the business. This is the journey we have begun.
“My government is government of the youths, for the youths and by the youths. Majority of youths constitute my cabinet.
“The 0.01%, the few hundreds who gets into the bush, who seek for easy route of livelihood, involved in kidnapping and crime cannot define who we are.
“A true onye Anambra will not take up guns to rob, attack, kill or decapitate someone’s head who haven’t done him no wrong.
“Our people work hard legitimately. To lay the foundation, we must have an educational system for the 21st century.
“The quality of our educational system is defined by the quality of teachers and teaching. We are recruiting over 5000 teachers in the coming weeks.
“We can’t have schools without teachers. Our hospitals needs Doctors and Nurses so that when you fall sick, you will have somewhere to go to.” Governor Soludo assured
As for the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Aghamba, the flag-off of the one Youth two Skills project is clearly captured in the Transition Committee Report.
He disclosed that the programme is targeted at raising mass entrepreneurs through apprenticeship, business financing and mentoring.
“Our society is faced with numerous challenges such as crime, kidnapping, violence etc, fundamentally as a result of youth unemployment.
“To solve the problem in a sustainable manner, youths must be kept positively busy with jobs.
“The essence of the workshop is to prepare the minds of selected trainees for the journey ahead.
“The journey can make or mar your future. The selected trainees must count themselves lucky to be selected from over 20000 youths that applied for this programme
“5000 beneficiaries is the overall target. Mr Governor’s vision is to create 1000 millionaires annually.
“The apprenticeship and entrepreneurial model being used requires that trainees would be sent to business owners for a duration of four to seven months to learn the skills within the business environment.
“All trainees will be trained in various communities with community leaders involved.
“This is against the old ways of bringing every trainee to the State Capital to be trained.
“Mr Governor has shown that the development of the youths is his topmost priority by appointing youths in key positions in his government.
“Everything required to start is ready! The Master Trainers are ready!! I must thank them for volunteering to offer their best to partner with the Solution Team in creating solutions to youth unemployment.
“Approval for all the empowerment training needed, welfare has graciously been granted by Mr Governor.
“There are also incentives for Master Trainers to motivate them for effective service delivery.
“I can’t stop thanking Mr Governor, “The field Youth Marshal” for his passion towards the youths.”
“I am very optimistic that in a few years to come, you shall all be successful entrepreneurs, contributing positively to the development of Anambra State.
“The world is waiting to hear your success story, do not be a disappointment.
Mr AghaMba tasked the trainees to use the opportunity afforded by the training, to better their lives and urged them to be humble, disciplined, patient and respectful.
In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Foster Ihejiofor, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, State Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comr. Emeka Obi, State Youth Leader, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Nze Chisom among others.
