Abia Urges Support For Youth Empowerment

The Abia  State government has called on corporate organisations in the state to support its youth empowerment initiatives to check unemployment and restiveness among the youth.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Emeka Ananaba, made the call at the graduation and presentation of certificates to 2,200 participants in the three-month skills acquisition training for youths in the state.

Ananaba, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Akujuobi Nkoro, said the government would provide the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.

“The state government will not relent in according the issue of its citizens’ development priority, as a way of laying solid foundation for our tomorrow,” he said.

The Director of  National Directorate of Employment (NDE)  in the state, Mrs Edna Ofodile, said the youth empowerment programme was a fulfillment of the organisation’s mandate in its quest to create jobs for the Nigerian youth.

Ofodile said the three-month empowerment programme had produced fully-equipped youths who would be injected into the economy of the state.

“And NDE can vouch for their abilities to deliver when they are fully assisted to embark on enterprise creation,” she said.

The Chairman of ASOPADEC, Chief Sam Nwogu, said the commission went into partnership with SMEDAN, NDE and NERFUND to equip the youth.

Nwogu said the one- year training programme of ASOPADEC was changed into a three-month skills acquisition and entrepreneurship training programme.

He commended the graduates from the 17 local government areas for successfully passing through the programme and encouraged them to utilise the various skills they acquired.

Mr Anosike Kanu, a beneficiary, said the training had made a positive impact in his life.

He expressed the hope that the promise to provide those trained with funds to set up businesses would be fulfilled.