The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has signed a five-year agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), on behalf of the State Government.
According to the statement released by Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the governor Soludo,the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed at the Government House, Awka, can be extended for another five years on expiration.
Shortly after the signing ceremony, the Governor also opened a temporary UNDP office for use in Awka, the state capital.
Governor Soludo who described UNDP as a major foundational partner, thanked them for their assistance and congratulated the Chairman and members of the Truth, Peace, and Justice Commission for their recommendations among which is the establishment of a Bureau of Missing Persons
He stated that the State Executive Council had approved it, as domiciled in the State Ministry of Justice.
“After I was sworn in on the 17th of March, we went on an inspection tour to Okpoko on the 18th of March, and on that day, UNDP sowed a big seed of partnership, and they have continued to scale up their level of support in multidimensional ways to this day.
“On June 9th, the UNDP stormed Anambra to visit Okpoko and assisted in the ongoing clean up of the area, fixing our dump sites, and providing funding for flooding threat.
“As a state, we have defined our vision and require global and national partnerships with the private sector and the people themselves (an open society concept where everyone has something to contribute.
“The UNDP will be at the heart of these three foundations: knowledge provision, resource mobilization, and network formation with other partnerships.
“We launched a waste management program called “clean, green, and sustainable Anambra,” and I am very excited about the report I received from consultants and what can be done. This is why I emphasized on the knowledge that UNDP can offer”.
The Governor spoke on the launching of the “one youth, two skills” program, the solution innovation district to develop Anambra youth, among others, emphasizing that the partnership has a large agenda as well as what it entails, in terms of human and financial resources.
“In signing this MOU, part of it frames systemic multidimensional development in the areas of this collaboration.
“It would be a huge step forward if UNDP could assist us in addressing our environmental challenges.
“Some of the things being done is not immediately apparent to the people, but they will recognize and appreciate it in the long run.
“Having a UNDP office in the state is very important. With you here, I expect other international development partners to visit the state.
“Together, with these partnerships, we will be able to have so many interventions that the rest of the world can replicate,” Governor Soludo concluded.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu noted that the MOU signing was informed by the need by UNDP to take their relationship with the government of Anambra State a notch higher.
On his part, the leader of the UNDP team representing the President, Muhammed Yahaya recalled the beginning of the journey on Governor Soludo’s first day in office and revealed that the relationship is built with the state was because of the Governor’s reputation.
He assured that his team will work with the state government on erosion, flood threat, revenue generation, innovative development solutions, and peace resolution in the state, expressing delight at the establishment of the UNDP office in the state.
In separate speeches, Chairman and Secretary of the Peace, Truth, and Justice Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu respectively appreciated the UNDP for their partnership with Anambra State Government.
In another development, the government of Anambra State signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment to implement a skills-upgrading and vocational training program in the state.
The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Mba, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, on behalf of the federal government signed the agreement.
The MOU was signed at the Minister’s Office of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
This historic collaboration with the federal government stems from Soludo’s efforts to combat youth unemployment and restiveness in the state.
Soludo’s “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, run by the Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development, and the “Solution Innovation District” (SID), powered by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, are testaments to the Governor’s accomplishments in youth empowerment in his first year in office.
Agha-mba pointed out that what stands out the present administration’s youth development programs is its incorporation of holistic components to ensure that beneficiaries are empowered with skills and finance to start up and scale up their businesses.
He assured of the Governor’s commitment to utilizing any legitimate available means to empower residents.
Trainees would gain digital, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills. Following that, they will be financed and mentored to launch their businesses, become self-sufficient, and employers of labour.
Children’s Day
In celebration of 2023 Children’s Day, Anambra State Police Command on Friday, May 26, 2023, collaborated with the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Anambra Chapter to visit the Police Children School, Awka and distributed gift items like exercise books and bags, in celebration of 2023 Children’s Day.
The Command through the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, during interaction with the pupils noted that children are the future and part of the conscience of our community and should be monitored, not neglected.
He also encouraged the children to know little things like, the names of their parents, phone numbers, the address of where they live, etc in case of any eventuality and urge parents to create a deliberate relationship with their wards. This will help them have access, to guide and direct them properly.
For her part, the Woman leader of PCRC Chapter Anambra State, Mrs Ubah Stella Ijeoma, prayed for the children and presented the gift items.
PIAK
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