By Tony Eri
The Anambra Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba, has revealed that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s One Youth, Two Skills Scheme will adopt and modernize the age-old Igbo Igba-Boy Apprenticeship Model.
The Commissioner made the disclosure during a monitoring and evaluation tour of the One Youth Two Skills Training Centres in Njikoka LGA, Dunukofia LGA, Idemili North LGA, Idemili South LGA Technology Incubation Center Nnewi, and Ekwusigo LGA.
He also disclosed that Governor Soludo’s goal is for trainees in the scheme to become employers of labor within two years.
“The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, is driving the One Youth, Two Skills Empowerment Scheme in collaboration with Unizik Business School.
“As the Governor always says, work without supervision isn’t work.”
“The task has been assigned to ensure policy implementation, quality, and standardization of the program,” Agha Mba emphasized.
The Commissioner, who described Governor Soludo as an action-oriented, talk-and-do Governor, stated that he has the agenda of youths at heart.
“One youth, two skills” is an initiative outlined in Mr. Governor’s manifesto. It is a total empowerment package, a new ideology launched by Governor Soludo in order to develop the youth.
“State Government empowerment training programs have always been held in Awka in the past, but in regards to the one youth, two skills, the Governor has reiterated that a community-based program must be implemented.”
“The era of coming to Awka from various communities has come to an end.” I must express my heartfelt gratitude to the Governor for initiating this initiative,” Commissioner Agha Mba stated.
The Commissioner explained that the scheme has five stages including; technical training, entrepreneurship, the establishment of corporative societies, business financing, and mentorship.
He said that during the business financing stage, which includes equipment and operational financing, the trainee must create a bankable business plan, whereas during the mentorship stage, EDIs will interact with trainees for one year because it is understood that new businesses face challenges.
In their separate speeches; Ajegwu Chioma from Enugwu Ukwu, Paul Ikechukwu from Dunukofia, Uju Okpala from Uga, Okeke Chimeobi from Nkpor, Okonkwo Ifeanyi Emmanuel from Nnobi, Abado Ngozi from Alor, Chinagorom Peace from Amichi-Nnewi North, Charles Okposa from Nnewi, Chinelo from Ihiala, Onwuka Samson from Ekwusigo and Chidimma Orainus from Oraifite respectively acknowledged that Governor Soludo’s one youth two skills initiative is not the typical empowerment scheme they are used to, pointing out that it has helped them discover themselves.
