ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT SET TO REFORM AND EMPOWER 3000 TOUTS FOR BUSINESS START UP

ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT SET TO REFORM AND EMPOWER 3000 TOUTS FOR BUSINESS START UP

The Government of Anambra State has concluded on the plans to reform and empower 3000 touts in the state with skills and funds to start up businesses. This was part of the outcomes of an inter ministerial meeting held between the State Ministries of Youth Development and Homeland Affairs. The meeting was first kick started between the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba and the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Hon. Chikaodi Anarah.

In furtherance to earlier discussions, another meeting was held on Tuesday 16th July 2024 to seal the Touts Reformation and Redirection initiative with the Director of Special Anambra State Anti Touting Squad (SASA), Mr. Chukwuebuka Onwuemene, who represented the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs.

Speaking during the event, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba commended the State Governor, Prof. Soludo Charles Chukwuma for his well articulated Anti Touting Policy, which has drastically reduced incidents of touting in the State. He also commended the Ministry of Homeland Affairs for effective policy implementation. He lamented on how the activities of touts caused colossal damages to the state, especially in the areas of security and environment. He however, expressed his delight on the level of reduction in touting activities in the State. He went further to disclose that the Governor has approved Touts Reformation and Redirection Scheme as part of the 1Youth2Skills Solution, to ensure that Touts are not only taken off the street, but redirected to positive ventures through skills acquisition and financial empowerment for business start up.

Mr. Agha Mba pointed out that for the Touts Reformation and Redirection Scheme of 1Youth2Skills Solution to be successful, the Ministry of Youth Development would require maximum support from its Homeland Affairs counterpart, especially in the area of the provision of data of touts taken off the street by the Special Anambra State Anti Touting Squad (SASA). He stated that if the touts taken off the street are not properly channeled to positive ventures like skill acquisition, they would end up attacking their neighbours in order to survive. The Commissioner went further to request for the data of touts arrested in the 3 senatorial zones of the State for a bootcamp and eventual engagement in the second batch of 1Youth2Skills Programme.

He further stated that most of the outstanding accomplishments of Gov Soludo was achieved in his youthful age, hence Mr. Governor’s relentless efforts in ensuring that all Anambra youths are positively engaged to maximize their potentials and that no youth shall be left behind. 

Responding, the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikodi Anarah, who was represented by the Director of Special Anambra State Anti Touting Squad (SASA), stated that the youths form the fulcrum of the touting activities in the state and getting them positively engaged is paramount. He described as essential, the partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development, without which the Anti Touting Programme of the State Government would amount to nothing. He expressed his delight on the plans of the Governor to empower the touts through the 1Youth2Skills Solution, and stated that concluding on the arrangements was a big achievement for his Ministry and the State at large. He commended the Ministry of Youth Development for ensuring that both indigenes and non-indigenes of Anambra State are engaged in the Touts Reformation and Redirection Scheme as Anambra indigenes constitute of only 20% of those in touting activities based on statistical records at their disposal. 

High point of the meeting was the resolution to categorized the touts into two groups; Category A, comprising of those that are addicted, who would undergo one week rehabilitation and subsequent Value Re-orientation, while Category B would comprise of those who will be given just Value Re-orientation and engaged immediately in the 1Youth2Skills Programme. It is expected that over 3000 touts will benefit from this year’s edition of the programme.

Other personalities present during the meeting, were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Engr. Dr Martin Agbili, the Director of Youth, Mrs Chito Osili, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Engr. Emeka Tony Omatah and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Mr. Chibuzor Udeh.