Jubilation as 96 graduates of 1 Youths 2 Skills receive grants at Idemili South
By Uzo Ugwunze
It was jubilation at Idemili South Local Government Area(ISLGA) Secretariat, Ojoto on Wednesday as 96 graduates of the 1 Youth 2 Skills scheme were empowered with take off grants to kick start their business as entrepreneurs.
The 96 persons were part of the 5000 youths that participated in the first phase of the 1Youth 2 Skills program floated by Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy to ensure that all youths were gainfully employed and become future employers of labor.
Presenting Certificates and the cheques for the Start up grants, The ISLGA Chairman, Hon. Mrs Amaka Obi(Iyom Ife-Abata) commended His Excellency, Professor Charles Soludo for empowering five thousand youths in the State.
Mrs Amaka Obi said that the Solution Governor was not one of the politicians who make promises just to get the votes of the masses during electioneering campaigns but was working assiduously cutting across all sectors of governance.
“Charly Nwagbafo is constructing roads, giving free education, free antenatal and free delivery. He employed thousands of health workers and teachers, increased workers salaries, he is now investing in human capital development, touching lives of women and youths”.
“We mothers who are always feeling the heat and burden of home management are praying seriously for him. Infact, with this empowerment he should be allowed to fix and govern Anambra State for the next 8 years. He is a grass root person who understands the plight of the common masses. He is neither sentimental nor nepotistic”, said Mrs Obi.
Mrs Obi also commended the Idemili South beneficiaries for comporting themselves during the training, saying that Soludo’s administration had given them lifetime opportunities to excel in various trades.
The I Youth 2 Skills Coordinator ISLGA, Hon Leonard Nwadike after lauding Governor Soludo and the gallant Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon Patrick Agha-Mba for transforming the lives of about 5000 residents of Anambra and an additional 10,000 persons for the second phase which its registration is ongoing.
“I believe the beneficiaries of this skill acquisition grants will utilize it judiciously because a monitoring team will be observing their performance and they all have opportunities of receiving additional funds in the future to boost their business enterprises if they are diligent,” said Nwadike.
However, some of the beneficiaries who expressed their joy to His Excellency for adding lifetime values to their lives include Chidimma Agbanusi from Oba community who leant Beauty care&Gele, Josephat Onyeka from Akwuukwu who trained in Livestock & Piggery, Maltida Ujuka from Ojoto who trained in ICT, Clement Obiora from Nnobi who learnt Alluminium Fabrication.
They eulogized Governor Soludo, the ISLGA Chairman, the facilitators and Master trainers who invested in their lives advising other youths who were nonchalant to grab the opportunity initially to join the second phase because the start up grants cheques handed over to them with their names was a reality and not politics or promises.
They also assured their resolve not to divert the funds in frivolities but rather invest the funds which ranges from 220,000 naira, 440,000 naira, 550,000 naira giving to them individually depending on ones area of specialization.
This reporter is a staff of the Anambra State Ministry of Information
