The Abia State Government has disclosed plans to empower a total of 2000 Youth Population spread across the 17 LGAs of the State on entrepreneurship development and knowledge economy for start ups and existing businesses.
The empowerment initiative would be conducted in conjunction with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation /National Social Investment Programs, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ministry of SMEs /Digital Economy as well as some commercial Banks and is expected to commence this July and end by 14th August 2023.
Briefing Journalists at the Government House Umuahia, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas revealed that participants would be availed the opportunity to acquire Entrepreneurial development skills using resources on a self e-learning Initiative website.
Mrs Thomas, who is also the State Focal Person, National Social Investment Programs further disclosed that the 2000 Participants would receive UNIPRENEUR Certificate of learning at the completion of the program to enable them access funding for their start-up business with the State government’s banking partners.
She said; “All the Participants would have access to stimulated entrepreneurship knowledge Economy and various business and Management ideas that will revolutionalize their intellectual quotient.
“Our Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti posits that in the light of the vagaries of today’s socio-economic realities, the need to use knowledge economy as a tool to empower Abia Youth population to become job makers instead of job seekers becomes imperative.
“He further reiterates the need for Abia State youths to take advantage of this great learning opportunity to acquire and develop individual business ideas/plans that will help build startups or strengthen existing businesses”.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Chinedu Egege noted that the program is in line with the vision of Governor Alex Otti to meaningfully empower young people in skills that would enable them to become self-reliant and make useful contributions to the growth of the society.
Mr Egege urged Abia Youths to afford themselves the rare opportunity to acquire business management skills that would help them in managing small and existing businesses.
