By Esindu Jacobs
Barely one month to the end of his administration, Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, has closed youth empowerment programme he established.
The Razor News, gathered that the One-Youth-One Skill Empowerment Programme which was created in 2018 and targeted at lifting the youth out of various crimes, was shut down on Friday.
It was the initiative of the Anambra State Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy.
This was announced by the State Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Prof Theresa Obiekezie during the graduation ceremony of the 5th Batch of the training programme.
She said that about 10,000 youths had so far benefited on the programme with a Trade Test Certificate from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
According to her, “I want to use this ceremony to announce to you all that this 5th batch of One-Youth-One-Skill Programme might be the last for this administration.
“As you all known, in one month time, the present administration will come to an end. Though, the administration still has a training programme called; The Youth Aprenticeship Programme.
“We have not closed that one. I hope and believe that the incoming government of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, will continue from there and more.
She however, thanked the governor, for the huge success of the programme.
The training , according to her, covered confectioneries, barbing, cosmetology, shoe making and Solar and CCTV production and repair.
The graduates were trained at three different centers in the three senatorial districts of Anambra State.
Fifty-nine of the trainees were also empowered with start-up packs during the ceremony.
Presenting the equipment to the beneficiaries, Prof. Obiekezie, said that the intervention was in line with Governor Willie Obiano’s promise to empower ten thousand youths in the State.
She advised the beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment, and to remain resolute and creative through the rough edges of entrepreneurship.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Louisa Ezeanya, extolled the governor, for the scheme, which was the first of its kind, noting that its focus on youths was critical to overall societal development.
Some of the beneficiaries of the programme, like Uwabunkeonye Clara, a student of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Chiamaka Chikeluba and Chigor King, assured that they would make diligent efforts to grow their chosen enterprises, while thanking the State government for the huge opportunity.
