Orumba Council Chairman, Prince Uchendu, tasks women, youths on personal growth, economic development

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka

The Chairman of Orumba South Local Government Area, Prince Neville Uchendu, has tasked women and youths to acquire knowledge and skills for personal growth, economic development, and social prosperity.

Prince Uchendu made the statement when he flagged off a 2-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Women and Youths between the ages of 18 and 40, facilitated by the African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP).

The AWEP POWER Project initiative which helps African women entrepreneurs, particularly in Nigeria, to be self-reliant also, enter international markets, was held at Prince Neville Uchendu’s renovated Council Hall at the local government headquarters in Umunze.

Addressing the participants, Prince Uchendu said the two days intense interactions and engagement on understanding various business planning, formation, and management processes were a privilege to have been flagged off in Orumba South among other LGAs in the state.

“This training is intended to empower and transform you. Recall that the Healthy Living Initiative with Nnoye Soludo, the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Nonye Soludo was flagged off in Orumba South, and that shows we are always at the forefront. At the end of this training, you will sing a new song for a change of level.

“Empowerment programmes transform and enhance your capabilities and opportunities. It equips you with valuable tools to excel in your personal and professional lives and also contributes to societal progress.

“The opportunity of today’s event enables you to tackle challenges with resilience. It opens doors to new career paths and financial stability, fostering self-reliance,” said Prince Uchendu.

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Pharm. Chisom Uchem, while thanking Prince Uchendu for hosting the programme, lauded him for his security architecture and developmental strides. He also assured the participants of the programme’s potential to change dynamics and transform lives.

“I want to encourage you to give full attention to the training; it was designed to take you to your tomorrow, granting you access to a better life.”

“The significance of this training is enormous. For instance, those trained in agriculture will gain knowledge in processing and packaging. This affords the opportunity to earn money by having produce stay longer and profit from selling them. With this newly acquired knowledge, you can harvest, process, and sell, and keep those you intend to preserve. In that way, you make money all year round.”

The Vice President of South-East AWEP POWER Project, Engr. Stella Eneh, while advocating empowerment, noted the relevance of entrepreneurship. She said, “When you empower a woman or a youth, you have empowered a nation. The more we empower others, the more we empower ourselves”

“I want to maintain that at AWEP, we don’t give money; we only empower and help raise grants not for individuals but for groups through cooperative societies, where they manage the resources collectively. The grant is given in batches depending on the performance of each cooperative.”

The Project Director of AWEP POWER Project, Amede Olisa-Achingale, encouraged the participants to use what they have acquired from the training to start something no matter how small, “no knowledge is a waste. Take the training from this project seriously. Whatever you empower yourself with stays with you to give you a better life better,” She said. 

Rev. Fr. Dr. Mike Anozie, of St. Mary’s Catholic Church Ezira, who graced the flag-off, tasked the participants to focus more on the training as it is the main tool that will fetch other resources that will enhance their lives, “The most important thing you will have to take away from today’s event is the training, that is the skill and knowledge that will empower you for the future.”

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), State Assistant Organising Secretary, Hon. Ikechukwu Okoli, said the essence of the training was primarily to make life better, “this training is a different level of empowerment. You are trained to be empowered, and the training you get today empowers you for tomorrow, and the certificate after the training empowers the capacity of your Curriculum Vitae. The training is not an automatic process that gives money but for building today for the future.”

In their separate remarks, participants, Chimebere Ezeabikwa, Alex Anebo, and Juliet Ojine expressed their appreciation to Prince Uchendu, Pharm Uchem, and the facilitators for the opportunity the training offered them and promised to utilise it in the most productive way.

The participants received the AWEP POWER PROJECT certificates of participation after the training.