The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has empowered 5,000 graduates of the pilot phase of the “One Youth, Two Skills” programme with seed grant of two billion naira, targets 10,000 beneficiaries in next batch.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo revealed the plans his administration has to turn Anambra State into the biggest digital skills hub in Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa where a greater percentage of Anambra youths will have employable and exportable tech skills.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Soludo reiterated that having formed themselves into cooperatives, there is a special funding put aside through Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASBA , for those who want to scale up their enterprise to access grants of up to five million naira.
The Governor pointed out that the grant each of them will receive should be enough to purchase the equipment they need to start.
Build business
Governor Soludo emphasised that the agenda was to raise smart entrepreneurs who posses two skills and people that would build businesses that will create jobs.
He gave assurance of bridging the gap between the rich and poor, by providing equal opportunity to all through access to quality education, healthcare services and empowerment opportunities.
Governor Soludo stated that Anambra state Government is very intentional about the human capital development and called on prospective partners and investors to invest in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem of Anambra state.
Soludo noted that Anambra people are enterprising in nature and advised that youths of Anambra should embrace the true Anambra spirit and shun criminality.
Sustainable manner
While revealing that human capital is Anambra’s greatest resource, the Governor described youths as the bridge to the future, saying that his administration believes in making empowerment in a sustainable manner.
The governor congratulated the new entrepreneurs and encouraged them to be committed and make good use of the start up funds and assured that the state will continue to provide them with free business mentorship programme to ensure they succeed.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba said that the part two will soon commence, pointing out that it is a revolution to take the youth to the next level and projected that in the next two years, the beneficiaries would have become employers of labour.
Personal development
Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe, Deputy Director, UNIZIK Business School said that the robust curriculum designed to develop trainees’ skills in the crosscutting disciplines that make for successful entrepreneurship and business management, included courses on personal development skills, personal thinking skills, among others.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo presented cheques to some of the beneficiaries during the graduation and business financing ceremony for batch one beneficiaries of the scheme at the Anambra International Convention Centre, Awka, the state capital.He announced that others should visit their respective local government areas from Wednesday November 1,2023, to collect their cheques.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Traditional Rulers, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Empowerment Programme, Dr Nelson Omenugha, ASATU National President, Barrister Titus Akpudo, among others.
Lateefah Ibrahim
