Anambra State governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has empowered 8,300 youths with N3.5 billion in grants through his administration’s digital skills programme, One-Youth-Two-Skills Plus, during their graduation and certification ceremony.
The funds were disbursed to the graduands at the event, which took place at the International Convention Centre, Awka, with beneficiaries drawn from Anambra and beyond.
The governor stated that the innovation scheme, launched in October 2022, aligns with his promise to make 1,000 youths in the state millionaires annually.
Governor Soludo explained that, to ensure the success of the programme, his government has set aside funds through the Anambra Small Business Agency to provide loans to interested participants.
The State Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba, commended the governor’s efforts in actualising the project and highlighted its transformational impact.
Similarly, the chairman of the scheme, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe, reported a 48 per cent increase in participation and recommended the programme as a model for scholars and Anambra youths.
The first cohort in 2023 empowered 5,000 youths with N2 billion, with over 1,000 of them now running successful ventures. While eulogising Soludo for the laudable initiative, some beneficiaries testified that the training and grants had enabled them to become employers of labour.
The training programmes for innovation in Anambra under the governor’s administration include the One-Youth-Two-Skills programme, Code Anambra, a training scheme for skills acquisition, and the One Million Digital Tribe for digital training. Graduates of the various schemes were rewarded with employment opportunities and laptops to enhance their skills.
Recently, the Anambra State Executive Council, ANSEC, approved additional training and a code of conduct for the state’s law enforcement agents to enhance performance and promote a liveable homeland.
According to the State Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, this forms part of Governor Soludo’s transformation of vital sectors of the state, adding that the training will improve the effectiveness of law enforcement agents in their operations.
8,300 youths benefit from Soludo’s N3.5bn digital empowerment programme
