Close Gap: Anambra Gov’t Determined To Make 1,000 Millionaires Yearly—Aghamba
The Anambra State government has reiterated its determination to make 1,000 youths millionaires every year through various youth-centred policies and programmes.
Mr Patrick Aghamba, Commissioner for Youth Development in Anambra said this at the conclusion of the statewide sensitisation of “Close the Gap Initiative” programme which ended with Anambra Central Senatorial Zone Saturday.
The ministry proceeded in a road show around Awka South to raise more awareness on the programme.
“Close the Gap Initiative” is a programme aimed at equipping every youth in Anambra with two marketable skills.
Aghamba who addressed stakeholders at the Government House Awka said the ministry had earlier completed the sensitisation exercise in Anambra North and South Senatorial zones.
Aghamba said the registration for “One Youth, Two Skills Solution” which was designed to provide employment to unemployed youths started mid 2022.
He however regretted that not too impressive number of communities responded with just 60 out of 179 in spite the awareness about it.
He encouraged youths and communities to embrace the programme noting that it was antidote to criminality, youth unemployment, and restiveness.
“In our action plan, we will bridge the gap by bringing together communities, stakeholders, and relevant stakeholders with the government. We are grassroot, and we must give back to the grassroot.
“We formed a group of young people to assist in the development of local structures and the implementation of our policies, we must communicate with the people, we also organised social media volunteers and awareness-raising volunteers,” he said.
Aghamba said the “One Youth, Two Skills Solution” programme aimed at 130, 000 youths and and 3000 Master Trainers in the first phase and that the training for the 5,000 pilot beneficiaries waa going on already.
He said the strategy was to send trainees to functional kill centres to learn skills and exposed them to the business environment.
He said successful trainees would proceed to the next phases, which were, entrepreneurship program, business financing and mentorship for one year.
On his part, Igwe S.I Okafor, the Traditional Ruler of Okpuno, Awka South LGA said he made concerted efforts to ensure that all Traditional Rules from Anambra Central Senatorial Zone keyed into the programme.
Okafor thanked Soludo for his lofty policies for Anambra youth and encouraged youths to take the program seriously in order to improve their lives.
Also, speaking, Igwe Emeka Ilouno, the Traditional Ruler of Ifitedunu, commended the Governor and Commissioner for their effort towards developing the youth in the State and also advised the state youth to embrace the opportunity given to them.
Mr Titus Akpudo, President General of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, said Anambra youths were tomorrow’s leaders and brighter future.
Akpudo lauded Aghamba for the success of the Town Hall Meeting in three senatorial Zones in the State.
He said that the Igbo are God blessed and hardworking people who can succeed on their own without the help of others, stating that the Igbo people have been given a special gift.
According to him, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment is committed to develop these special gifts in thousands of youths, when these thousands of youths are empowered and established, criminality in the state will decrease.
