By Paul Nwosu

It was an enthralling scene of magical enthusiasm as Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, launched the second batch of the One Youth, Two Skills initiative at the International Convention Centre, Awka, on Thursday, April 8.

The jam-packed hall of some 8,620 participants who qualified for the second batch of the programme kept hailing Governor Soludo as he stated that the successful candidates were selected from 183,000 applications because of available limited spaces.

In the words of Mr. Governor: 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.”

Governor Soludo went further to stress: As we launch this particular phase, Ndị-Anambra youths, I thank you 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. Ndị-Anambra celebrate nothing but hard work. 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 lamentation, but now, we are doing something to ensure that our youths are useful to the society.

True to his drive of transforming Anambra State into the largest skills hub in Nigeria, Soludo maintained that the training will give the youths the necessary skills to make them not only employable but exportable too.
According to Governor Soludo, This is a unique training programme. Many of the artisans works and skills are now in short supply. As I look at your faces today, I can see the future millionaires and the youths that can take Anambra and Nigeria to the world.

He itemised the five systemic pillars of the programme thusly: Apprenticeship scheme, Entrepreneurial skills training, Formation of cooperatives, Business financing scheme, and Mentorship scheme.
For starters, 2 billion Naira grant was disbursed to those who qualified in the last batch. Another 2.5 billion naira start-up capital has been set aside for beneficiaries that are willing to access it through the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA).

This is becoming an organic movement, Governor Soludo said, adding: “We are expecting that in every kindred, there should be one person benefitting from the scheme, so that it permeates the whole Anambra. We are recommending this Anambra model to the world. We are upgrading and 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.”

Soludo is not a dispenser of governmental freebies, as he stated: 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.

For Governor Soludo, the children and the youth are the bridges to the future. He gave pride of place to Community Development as the pivotal key that has helped Anambra State to rise and shine very quickly.

Mr. Governor minced no words in making the plea: I encourage friends of Anambra to join us. Public-Private-Community-Partnership (PPCP) is the fastest way to scale up the development of Anambra. We are determined to give good value, but we need partners. To developmental partners who have funds, this is an opportunity.

Reiterating his governments commitment to human capital development, Governor Soludo charged the youths to take advantage of the One Youth, Two Skills initiative so that they will become a solution to themselves and the society.

*PAUL NWOSU*
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State