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By Madu Obi
Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has launched the second batch of the "One Youth, Two Skills" Solution programme, expressing optimism that the scheme would transform the state into the country's largest skills hub.
Speaking at the event at the International Convention Center, Awka, no fewer than 8,620 youths that qualified for the second batch of the programme were empowered.
Governor Soludo described the beneficiaries as the bridge to the future, saying that that was why his administration places emphasis on human capital development.
The governor said: "Today, we are beginning the phase two of that big journey to ensure that our youths are empowered on a sustainable basis, to teach them how to fish and eliminate hunger.
Phase one of the programme had 5000 youths, trained on a peculiar way of igba boi, mentorship, etc. Most of them have been empowered, and several of them are now employers of labour.
In this second batch, 183,000 applications were received, and over 8000 people were selected because of limited spaces.
As we launch this particular phase, I thank Anambra youths for being responsible citizens. Thank you for deciding not to protest, not because you don't feel the pain of the moment, but because of our age long value system"
Our people celebrate nothing but hard work and I thank our youths for deciding to take their destinies in their hands. It is good to protest, but even better to do something. For decades, we've been singing songs of lamentations, but now, we are doing something to ensure that our youths are useful to the society.
"This is a unique training programme. Many of the artisans' works and skills are now in short supply.
As I look in your faces today, I can see the future millionaires and the youths that can take Anambra and Nigeria to the world," the governor stressed.
"We are expecting that in every kindred, there should be one person benefitting from the scheme, so that it permeates the whole Anambra.
We also are recommending this Anambra model to the world. We are upgrading digitizing the system to ensure that former applicants do not apply and participate.
The number that applied shows that Anambra youths are hungry to take their destinies in their hands. We will continue to provide the enabling environment. I implore you to take it very seriously.
This is not a programme for government to dish out free money, but for those who are ready to make decent living. It will benefit only qualified trainees. Make the most of it."
He observed that community development had helped Anambra to scale up very quickly, adding that Anambra believes in collaborative development, as well as "leave no one behind" mantra.
He encouraged friends of Anambra to join the Public-Private-Community-Partnership, PPCP, which, he added, is the fastest way to scale up the development of the state.
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