IMSG TO PARTNER WITH “HOPE RISING” FOR IMO YOUTHS JOB CREATION

EVEREST EZIHE, Ogbor Uvuru

Disturbed by the alarming rate of youths unemployment and poised by her commitment to ensure job creation opportunities among her teeming youths, Imo State Government has assured of her willingness to partner with Hope Rising for Imolites in their vision and mission of making Imo youths self-reliance and employers of labour.

Chief Declean Emelumba, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy disclosed this on Tuesday at Ogbor Uvuru, Abor Mbaise, the State Secretariat of Hope Rising for Imolites while representing Governor Hope Uzodimma during the passing out ceremony of the 5th batch of training for 500 youths on CCTV, Inverter, solar panel installations and maintenances.

Uzodimma expressed happiness over the program noting that it offers the participant skills to earn meaningful living and confidence to excel in life and to jettison criminal activities and anti-social vices.

According to the Governor”am highly pleased with what your organization is doing by empowering the youths across the 27 council areas of the state and 305 wards, in skills acquisition, not even in consideration of their political party affiliation. This is in line with my administration’s Share Prosperity mantra. My government is highly interested in partnering with your organization in improving and consolidating on this” he assured.

He described the Co-ordinator, Chief Akagburuonye as a member of his administration’s kitchen cabinet and commended him for being philanthropic in things concerning the welfare of the youths and humanity in general.

Responding, Chief Akagburuonye who’s the Founder and National Leader of Hope Rising for Imolites said he can’t thank God enough for the privilege to anchor the programme of training Imo youths for self-reliance, sustenance and to secure the future of the state arguing that these youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Coordinator further pointed out that “we have some challenges, our expatriate partners are feeling insecure hence our passionate appeal for security, they are also advising the government to create Solar Stations in all the Local Government Headquarters in the State to sustain the project, ascertain that these graduands can also train others in their locality, to provide the alternative means of power supply to cushion the effects of epileptic power supply and the cost of power in the areas where they belong” he stated.

He presented over 200 Imo youths whom he said have acquired skills in solar panel installation and maintenance and have equally certified worthy both in character and in learning to be awarded their Certificate of Competence.

Akagburuonye further reaffirmed that Governor Hope Uzodimma is God sent in emancipating Imo citizens, that he dismantled a proposed dynasty that would have thrown Imo State into perpetual slavery.

The National Leader said it point-blank that his organization is not into playing politics but rather stands for good governance and inclusiveness.

According to him” this programme is not for APC members alone, come as you are, when you taste and see that our leader (Uzodimma) in the State is not partial, not greedy, not wicked, he is God-fearing and accommodating, they can now judge because you don’t kick from a distance” he stated.

In his speech, Prof. Boniface Nworgu, the State Commissioner for Science and technology while commending Akagburuonye for his patriotism, reiterated the state government willingness in partnering with Hope Rising for Imolites in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

In his contributions, Chief Chibututu Isiguzo, the Managing Director, Solar Light System Nigeria Limited and Leader, Hope Rising for Imolites, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State said that skill acquisition is the best means of youth empowerment and wealth creation especially in a poor economy like Nigeria where there’s youth unemployment and under-employment.

Isiguzo thumbs up Akagburuonye for the sponsorship of the free training programme on establishment of solar energy maintenance and installation as a strategic means of cushioning the effects of youth restiveness and insecurities due to unemployment.

According to him ” this form of empowerment program is unique in the sense that every participant in the training program is automatically equipped with the knowledge of the installation and maintenance of solar energy projects such as solar house installation, solar street lights, solar industrial and commercial installations etc. It’s said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop; hence solar energy training is a veritable way to engage the youths in a legal means of livelihood”.

For Barr. Raph Nwosu, the state Commissioner for Works who was ably represented by Engr. Peter Amadi, the Ministry’s Principal Engineer while applauding the Coordinator for his labour of love to the youths, he insisted that”the program ranging from (CCTV), Solar panels Installation, inverter, maintenance and so on, are very important to the development of Imo State and as such creates employment for her teeming youths, thereby producing captains of industries in their own little way which in turns create employment under the Shared Prosperity mantra of Governor Hope Uzodimma, therefore should be encouraged”.

For Nze Ben Osuji, the organization’s leader in Owerri municipal council described Hope Rising for Imolities as a Frontline support group for the state government visionary administration.

Osuji maintained that building a self-sustaining and productive economy calls for the government’s investment in solar panel installation and maintenance training of the youths as a veritable means of empowering them.

He solicited for adequate funding and cooperation by the state government through the establishment of a Technology Development Funding Board (TDFB) which will design and implement policy measures that will facilitate and intensifies the flow of fund into the technology sector.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Amarachi Obasi noted that when she wanted to learn the program about a year ago, she was asked to pay 250k and for two weeks she has learnt the packages free including feeding and decent accommodation while thanking God for the rare opportunity.

Obasi commended the Founder and National Leader of Hope Rising for Imolites, Barr. Engr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye for his philanthropic gestures to Nigerian youths and humanity at Large.

She assured of making a living out of the profession considering herself as Solar Energy Engineer while appealing to Imo state government on the need to partner with the Coordinator in the overall interest of the beneficiaries and the society.

Highlight of the occasion was issuing of certificates to the beneficiaries by the Governor’s representative and the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology.