News
Empowerment: Soludo launches second batch of 1Youth-2Skills
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
Several candidates recently shortlisted for recruitment into the Nigerian Army from Imo State have sustained varying degrees of injuries after the vehicle conveying them to the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna State, was involved in a road accident on Saturday.
The candidates were said to be travelling to the training institution to commence their basic military training when the accident occurred.
Military sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the journey was being coordinated under the supervision of Lieutenant Colonel P.D. Ngal.
A military source said the victims had successfully passed the recruitment process and were heading to the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria to begin their recruit training before the accident disrupted the journey.
“The candidates from Imo State were on their way to the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria to begin their recruit training when the accident happened this morning,” the source said.
Videos seen by our correspondent showed several injured candidates lying by the roadside and inside damaged vehicles as emergency responders and other travellers made frantic efforts to evacuate them.
Many of the injured candidates were subsequently rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the accident and the number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed.
Benue State Police Command has condemned the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Ardo Rabo Mohammed, and another man, Yakubu Isa, describing the attack as a senseless criminal act capable of undermining ongoing peace and security efforts in the state.
The victims were reportedly attacked by gunmen while returning from a security meeting along the Okwudu-Ogoli Road in Otukpo Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, condemned the killings and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The Commissioner of Police strongly condemns in its entirety the brutal killing of the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, Ardo Rabo Mohammed, and one Yakubu Isa, who were reportedly attacked by unknown assailants while returning from a security meeting along Okwudu-Ogoli Road, Otukpo,” the statement read.
According to the police, the command has commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident, with tactical and intelligence teams deployed to track down those responsible.
The Commissioner assured residents that the command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the perpetrators are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
He appealed to members of the public to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands, and refrain from spreading unverified information capable of escalating tensions.
The police also urged anyone with credible information that could aid the investigation to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.
Three bandits have been arrested in Benue state after a lady who they had kidnapped and released, identified them at a motor park and raised alarm.
The k!kidnappers came to Ihotu park to board a vehicle to Makurdi and were met by the lady they had earlier kidnapped and released after collecting ransom from her relatives.
They were even using a bag they collected from the girl. The girl raised the alarm, held one inside the vehicle, and two took to their heels, but were caught.
They had a ghana-must-go bag at the back of the vehicle. N11m was found inside the bag.
Following the confirmation of their identity by another lady who was also their victim, mob gathered around with the intent to beat them up and possibly set them ablaze.
But the park manager decided to invite the police and soldiers who rescued them and took them to their station.
It was later gathered that the Benue state Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia called and said he was interested in the case which made the police to take the apprehended bandits to Makurdi, the state capital.
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