THE Anambra State government has inaugurated a programme called one youth one skill initiative. This is keeping with Governor Willie Obiano’s promise and target of training ten thousand youths annually.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke performed the ceremony on behalf of the Governor, at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy in Awka.
The maiden batch of the initiative will start with two hundred and fifty youths and lasts for three weeks and the selected youths will be trained on various entrepreneurial skills including aluminium, solar power, PVC ceiling installation, among others.
Governor Obiano who decried the unemployment rate in Nigeria, expressed optimism that the programme will continue in order to accommodate more youths, adding that his administration has conquered insecurity and exposed entrepreneurship prospects in agriculture.
The Governor, while pointing out that integrity and honesty is key to building successful business urged the beneficiaries to focus on the training and do their best.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Mr Bonaventure Enemali said empowerment is key to solving youth restiveness and indulgence in societal vices, adding that the training has been decentralized in zones for optimum results.
The Managing Director of Anambra Small Business Agency, ASBA, Chief Clement Chukwuka, urged the beneficiaries to aspire to come out best in the training, stressing that only Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprises have the ability to mitigate unemployment.
Chief Chukwuka, explained that ASBA tries to provide easy access to business funds, urging Anambra youths to take advantage of the initiative.
It would be recalled that Governor Willie Obiano during this year’s International Youth Day celebration which took place in August promised to create ten thousand entrepreneurship skill opportunities for Anambra youths annually.