Anambra Youths set for Massive Empowerment Opportunities

Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development has reached an agreement on a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to massively explore and harness empowerment opportunities for the youths of Anambra State.

This landmark agreement was reached following the visit of Commissioner for Youth Development Mr. Patrick Agha Mba, to his Ministry of Commerce and Industry counterpart in Awka.

Earlier in the discussions the commissioner, who was accompanied by the ministry’s officials, stated that the key objective of the visit was to intimate his Commerce and Industry counterpart on the various programmes of the ministry and discuss the areas of collaboration.

Mr. Patrick Agha Mba stated that the essence of collaboration is to take youth empowerment in the state to the next level.

He emphasized the state government's commitment to developing youth through numerous programmes like 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution in order to ensure higher productivity and contribution to the state GDP. He also stated that the ministry has already developed a program called Job-kickstart Solution, which is intended to close the gap between job seekers and employers while building the capacity of the youths to understand Management, Workplace Essentials as well as Career Choices.

Mr Agha Mba commended the Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR, for enabling investment and youth development, he also acknowledged the achievements of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the present administration and stated that youth development programmes cannot achieve the desired objectives without the involvement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He hinted that plans are underway to improve the Apprenticeship Scheme of Umuboi for better effectiveness.

He expressed the need to create job opportunities and link up youths with employment and relevant skills that will help them become self employed which in turn, reduces crime through positive engagement.

In response, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Mr. Christian Udechukwu welcomed the team to his ministry, appreciated him for his achievements and accepted to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Development to achieve the state government's youth development agenda.

He stated that his ministry will assist in bringing in big corporate organizations for specialized training in skills required by the organizations in order to expand the scope of the highly celebrated and already successful 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution. He also stated that the Ministry will frequently organize a programme called Solution Master Class, which will help in developing young entrepreneurs in Anambra State. He stated the programme would offer these young entrepreneurs the opportunity to meet and listen to highly accomplished CEOs of big industries like Innoson, ABC Motors and Coscharis Group in order to achieve their vision of setting up the businesses.

The Commissioner also reiterated the need for the trainees of various empowerment programmes of the government to publicize the experience gained from the programmes in order to impact useful knowledge to other youths for their futuristic use.

The high point of the event was the formal presentation of the 1 Youth 2 Skills brand to the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who in turn, presented "Made in Anambra Tea" to the Commissioner for Youth Development and his entourage as part of the campaign for the promotion of Made in Anambra Products by his ministry.

Meeting attendees included the Acting Permanent Secretary of Youth Development Mrs. Chito Osili, Special Assistant to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Eloka Maduekwe, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development Engr. Emeka Tony Omatah, Executive Assistant to Governor on Youth Development Mr. Chibuzor Udeh, Director Industry Eboh-Nwosu Josephine Nkiruka, HOD Small Medium Enterprises, Mr. Okwudili Obiefuna and the media team of the Ministry.