The reawakening call towards the resuscitation of the pre-colonial Igbo concept of ONYE AGHALA NWANNE YA found in the culture of self- reliance is gathering momentum in Enugu State under the current administration which is aimed at solving the problem associated with unemployment through youth empowerment. The new order centered on the concept of ONYE AGHALA NWANNE YA economic model of the current administration which is purely a blue prints developed to mobilize the youths in the State through talent discovery in various economic ventures aimed at giving them financial freedom through digital training. This model tends to integrate forces of entrepreneurs and experts together in the State with the aim of empowering the Enugu State youths who have the zeal of developing State economy through skill acquisition training.
The administration has made Public and Private Partnership workable which has transform the state through long-term investments, creating both economic prosperity and social wealth.
As a result of this, the administration has commenced massive construction of Technology Hub Centres in Enugu City and Obollo Afor which targets employment for 10,000 youths and creation of 1,500 small scale technology businesses across the state in three years time.
The current administration of governor Ugwuanyi is poised in building new generation of entrepreneurs through various youth empowerment programmes initiated in the state. The idea is to integrate the youths into various economic ventures to boost the Internally Generated Revenues of the state and help them become self-reliance which Africa via Igbo pre-colonial economic model is known for. This is to enable the people create jobs/wealth and employ others which reduce rising unemployment challenges in the state and drastically reduce over dependency and youth restiveness in the state.
To achieve this, the administration embarked on building strong infrastructural development across the state for a sustainable economic growth through Public and Private Partnership (PPP).
This is the current administration plan to fulfil its mandate in providing enabling environment for business to strive. In order to get best economic result in skill acquisition training of the youths towards economic prosperity in 21st century, the administration partnered with Jobberman with special focus on training of Enugu State youths on contemporary skills that will enable them stand tall in the labour market. To achieve enviable youth development, the administration is the first to initiate what is termed studentprenuer in Nigeria. This is to inculcate the entrepreneurship skills to students of the state and made loans available to them in starting a small business that will assist them in their academic life. One of the standpoint of this entrepreneurship development in the state is the adequate training being given to our youths with 21st century skills available.
The administration of governor Ugwuanyi has keyed in the above concept by sponsoring more youths into entrepreneurship and other youth oriented programmes. This is the part of the youth rescue project which is currently ongoing in the state through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The administration has started to build an inclusive database of artisans, new businesses, and unemployed Enugu State youth.
His Excellency has vowed to train young entrepreneurs on basic knowledge of business development and ensure that their businesses are registered with CAC to qualify them for funding opportunities. The administration intervenes by proffering direct solution to the long-standing unemployment challenges of the youth, assist new businesses and collapsed ones do to economic factor to access funding, and ensure skilled people in the state are up to date with in-demand skills.
The gains of the new concept in the administration of governor Ugwuanyi are as follows: Through the ministry of Youth and Sports had provided skill training for the youths and empowered them with seed capital/materials to start up their own business and tasked them to utilize the already created environment by the current administration for their business to thrive.
Through the various intervention of the state government on youth empowerment, it was re-oriented the upcoming entrepreneurs on the need to create a social wealth that will benefit Enugu State rather than what is obtainable in a capitalist model, social good through long-term investments. This is yielding results especially in agro-allied industries and ICT in the state.
The current administration had encouraged government through the local governments in the state for grassroots mobilization of talented youths, empower them and harness the material resources of the area for more economic development in the rural areas to be possible rather than allowing it to be neglected or exploited in a way that it will not make positive impact in the economy; hence promotes sense of belonging, self-reliance, specialization and expertize in people.
Governor UGWUANYI is youth friendly in all facets of human endeavours and his administration is commitment in youth digital development is a force to reckon and we must support his administration for more economic development in coming years especially as it concerns youth development.
*Enugu State is in the Hands of God.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED”HIS EXCELLENCY GOV IFEANYI UGWUANYI (MR FULFILMENT) YOU DESERVE OUR GREATEST RESPECT FOR THE LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED AND THE STABILITY YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR DEMOCRACY..THANKS FOR BEING OUR GREATEST ASSET..
Written by:
Jude Chijioke Achu
MEDIA MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
