From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Anambra State Government on Friday distributed two billion Naira (N2b) to five thousand beneficiaries of the pilot phase of the “One Youth, Two Skills” programme.
Gov Soludo presented the cheques to the beneficiaries during the graduation and business financing ceremony for batch one beneficiaries of the scheme at the Anambra International Convention Centre(AICC) Awka.
He pointed out that having formed themselves into cooperatives, there is a special funding put aside through Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) for those who want to scale up their enterprise to access grants of up to five million naira.
Anambra number one man noted that the grant each of them will receive should be enough to purchase the equipment they need to start, as he asked the beneficiaries to approach their respective LGAs next week to pick up their cheques.
Gov Soludo said that human capital is Anambra’s greatest resource even as he described youths as the bridge to the future, he said that his administration believes in making empowerment in a sustainable manner.
The Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba earlier in his speech said that the second phase of the scheme will soon commence.
Agha Mba said that it is a revolution to take the youth to the next level and projected that in the next two years, the beneficiaries would have become employers of labour.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the occasion expressed their gratitude to Prof Charles Soludo for being youth friendly.
They promised to make him proud for his investment in their future
The highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of cheques to beneficiaries.