The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has flagged off a four-month skills development programme in Bende, Abia State, describing it as a deliberate effort to equip youths with lasting knowledge and globally recognised certificates.
The programme, tagged “Artisan Training on Building Projects”, is sponsored by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and facilitated by Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), with the support of the Office of the Deputy Speaker.
The initiative is training participants drawn from across Abia State, with Bende Local Government Area securing the highest number of slots, as 130 youths were selected from its 13 political wards following the intervention of the Deputy Speaker’s Office.
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Abia and Enugu are the two South-East states selected for the pilot phase of the intervention and the first to commence participation in the current cohort.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Bende, Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the African Development Bank and Family Homes Funds Limited for driving a youth-focused agenda.
He said: “Let me thank my leader in politics, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a President who is not just saying he loves the youths in words, but doing that through action. This initiative won’t be possible without the help of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the one who has energised Family Homes Funds to begin to scout for youths who will be equipped for the future.”
Kalu noted that Nigeria’s youthful population remains its greatest asset ahead of 2050, when the country is projected to be among the most populous nations in the world.
The Deputy Speaker urged the trainees to remain committed throughout the programme, warning that the temptation to drop out might arise but should be resisted.
He disclosed that certificates to be issued at the end of the training would be recognised nationally and internationally, adding that job placements had already been arranged for qualifying participants from the first phase of the programme.
Kalu also urged participants to see themselves as the foundation for rebuilding Bende, Abia State and Nigeria.
“The only way you are going to pay Mr President, the African Development Bank, Family Homes Funds and the Office of the Deputy Speaker back is by showing dedication. Finish the training. What is waiting for you at the end is big.
“The youths are the energy of the nation. The more we equip them, the better we build the nation. If we abandon them, we abandon our future. If we hold their hands, we prepare a nation that generations unborn will be proud of. That is why I am happy to be here, to see you all bright and ready to build the nation.
“We decided to go this route because we are looking for what we can give you that somebody cannot take away from you because it will go with you everywhere you go. The knowledge you acquire from here will germinate into a very big tree that will provide shelter for a whole lot of people.
“I am counting on you, as we want to rebuild Bende, rebuild Abia and rebuild the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am counting on you. Segment by segment, phase by phase, we will train a whole lot of youths for them to be able to fend for themselves and support their loved ones,” the Deputy Speaker emphasised.
Also speaking, a representative of Family Homes Funds Limited, Builder Ugwueri John, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce dependence on white-collar jobs by promoting skills development.
He expressed appreciation to the Deputy Speaker for facilitating the training in Bende.
“Thank you for bringing this training to Bende. This training will last for four months, starting from August to November. It is an intervention programme, keying into the mantra of this present government to equip our unemployed youths with skills.
“It is skills that drive the economy of this nation, and many unemployed youths rely on white-collar jobs or government employment. Therefore, the government saw the need to engage our youths in skill development, and this is one of such interventions.
“Out of the 150 trainees selected for the training, Bende has the highest number, courtesy of the Deputy Speaker.
“For these four months, we are going to dedicate two months to the theoretical aspect of the training, which has already commenced, and another two months to practical training. I want to thank the Deputy Speaker for bringing this training to Bende,” John explained.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Kalu Chinedu Peter from Amogwu Village in Bende Local Government Area expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Deputy Speaker for bringing the programme to the area.
“I am one of the trainees. On behalf of my fellow students, we are thanking His Excellency for bringing this particular programme to Bende town. We pray that he will continue to be in that seat till 2031, and we pray that our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will continue till 2031. Enemies will never see them,” he said.
Another trainee, Dabara Samuel Fumilayo from Bende, said the programme would have a lasting positive impact on participants and future generations.
“I want to appreciate His Excellency for his love and care for the youths. Personally, I am keen to be a full partaker of this project because we are not really talking about today; we are talking about our future, not only for us, but for the upcoming ones. Whatever we learn here will not only benefit the people of Item, Abia and the whole of Nigeria, but the world,” she said.
Organisers of the training said the programme would be implemented in phases to accommodate more interested youths. They added that the current phase would run from August to November 2026, comprising two months of theoretical instruction and two months of practical training.
