Anambra Governor Assures Support To FG Social Intervention Programme 

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has assured total support of his administration to the recently proposed Federal Government’s social intervention program for vulnerable Nigerians.

The Governor gave the assurance in Awka, the state capital, at the inaugural meeting with the “At Risk Children Program, (ARC-P),” team; from the office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

Governor Soludo, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, commended the federal government for the social intervention programme, which he said is in line with his vision of getting the youths and the vulnerable off the street through the provision of employment opportunities and skill acquisition training and assured that the team has his administration’s support as it is for the interest of Anambra youths.

He reminded the team that the Buhari-led government is already winding up, hence the need for them to kick off the program immediately.

The Governor recommended that the program should be done on the political ward level; as against the initial local government level, so as to touch more lives and actualize the target.

Earlier, the leader of the group and a Special Advisor to the President on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, explained that the program is geared towards creating employment for the vulnerable in communities across the country, as well as restoring their dignity through skill acquisition training and empowerment afterward.

Mrs. Uwais disclosed that the team has done a lot of consultations on how to make the program work across the nation. Mrs. Uwais commended Anambra State Government’s support to them so far and called for sustenance for a positive outcome of the program in the state.

In their various remarks, the state Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha-Mba, that of Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, and Agriculture, Mr. Foster Ifejiofor, made a case that the federal government should provide more grants and supports to Medium and Small Enterprises in Anambra, and observed that the “At Risk Children Program”, if implemented, will go a long way in contributing to the actualization of Professor Soludo government’s vision for Anambra youths, and drastically reduce crime and criminality in the society.

The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma, and a representative of the disability community, Comrade Samuel Obiefuna, while suggesting that the program be inclusive and accessible for the targeted individuals, solicited that Anambra State benefits more in the program, as there are lots of unemployed persons in the state.

The team was later conducted around the office where they will be operating from at the Government House Awka throughout the period of the program in the state.

Olusola Akintonde