By Ifeizu Joe
Anambra State government has approved the release of the sum of N2,835,150,000 for the empowerment of youths to be trained in various skills.
The approval was made during the 15th Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) meeting, held at the Light House in Awka, Anambra State.
The skills acquisition programme which is in its second batch and codenamed One Youth Two Skills is a scheme used to train young people in the state, where each youth learns two skills, after which they are empowered with seed capital to start their own businesses.
In a press statement by the commissioner for information, Dr Law Mefor, the council said the assessment of the first cohort of One Youth Two Skills showed that it was a success, and that government is set to make the second cohort even better.
The statement read: “The Council has reviewed the success of Cohort 1 of the Soludo administration’s flagship youth empowerment program.
“7,163 out of 11,000 trainees excelled in 65 skill areas. Additionally, 235 Umuboi (apprentices) from the Local Enterprise Development of 21 local governments in the state were successful.
“Over 1,000 millionaires emerged from the graduates of the first cohort, and funds for the empowerment of Cohort 2 have been approved, and ready for commissioning.”
Explaining the allocation of the N2.8billion funds approved, Mefor said the council approved the release of a total of N2,835,150,000 for the projects.
They include; N2,588,520,000 for 1One Youth Two Skills business financing scheme, N141,900,000 for One Youth Two Skills cooperatives start-up, N73,230,000 for graduation and certification, N31,000,000 for One Youth Two Skills mentorship scheme and N500,000 for consolation to a deceased family.
Mefor said the council also awarded other contracts, including the Awka City Park Project to provide environmental, aesthetic, and recreational benefits to the Awka capital city, along with social, health, and economic benefits.
He said work on the Awka City Park project had already commenced.
