Breaking News: Empowering 500 Anambra youths with skills by Obiano at Technology Incubation Center, Nnewi

www.odogwublog.com reports that 500 youths from the 21 local government areas of Anambra state sponsored by Governor Willie Obiano’s administration are undergoing incubation process at the Technology Incubation Center, Nnewi under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

The programme tagged State Youth Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Scheme was inaugurated by Governor Willie Obiano at the Technology Incubation Centre Nnewi, nnewi North local government area. This is the first batch of the trainees and they would be trained in ICT, soap making, spare-parts fabrication and production of car wash liquid detergents, among others.

www.odogwublog.com reports further that at the end of the incubation period ranging from three weeks to six months or more depending on the skill acquired /trade the trainees would be given certificates of Technology Entrepreneurship bearing the imprimatur of the Technology Incubation center and the National Board for Technology Incubation.

Governor Obiano said the programme was in line with his earlier promise to establish three vocational centres, one in each senatorial district.

He explained that the second batch of trainees would also be selected from all the local government areas until the other two vocational centres come on stream , adding that, at the end of their training, the youths would be provided with seed money to establish small scale businesses to become self reliant.

He recalled that another batch of five hundred youths were being trained at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company on automobile manufacturing.

Governor Obiano, who used the opportunity to commission a three hundred KVA transformer, restated the ongoing efforts of his administration to boost power supply in the area to drive the on-going industrial revolution, in addition to mass infrastructural development, including the shopping Mall project in Nnewi.

Highlight of the flag off was the announcement of  a scholarship award to Master Onyebuchi Osuma Emejulu from Onitsha North, from Primary to tertiary level of education, for singing the Anambra Anthem off hand, assuring that his government would continue to encourage youths to achieve their aspirations.

The Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Prince Chukwudi Orizu, thanked the Governor for empowering the youths and providing them opportunity to develop their skills to attain full potential in life. He assured that the people of the area would give APGA total support in the coming elections but later appealed to his people to ensure they support APGA for continuity of the projects initiated by APGA government.

But on his part the Commissioner for Science and Technology and Mineral Resources Anambra state , Chief Obi Nwankwo said the flag off was for initial 500 youth skill Acquisition programme which he said was the first Technology based youth empowerment scheme of the scale in the history of Anambra state .

Nwankwo expressed gratitude to Governor Obiano for supporting the initiative of the training and fulfilling his promises to the Incubation center when he visited last October, 2014. He reminded that Obiano promised to uplift the center by building an auditorium, incubation complex , landscaping of the premises , installation of 300KVA transformer and training of 500 unemployed youths.

This Nwankwo said, ‘’ we are happy His Excellency has made some approvals towards realizing these promises.  We have the assurances of His Excellency that more approvals are on the way. The beneficiaries will receive training in various areas from automobile machine parts fabrication, fisheries, beverages, soap and cosmetics manufacturing , ICT and so on. We consider these skills , the key enablers towards actualizing the 4 pillars of the Willie Obiano administration namely , Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Industrialization, Trade and Commerce.

‘’through this scheme we are getting Ndi Anambra ready, and equipping them with the right skills that will be needed as we embrace the opportunities already emerging in Anambra state through increased foreign investments’’.

Some of the trainees Udeaja Ugochukwu from Nnewi North, Onyeagolu Osita from Awka North and Ugboesotu Ifeoma Nnewi South lauded the Anambra state government led by Governor Willie Obiano and wife Osodieme Eberechukwu Obiano for being pro youths. They assured that they would be diligent and committed to be able to be master of their own skills.

In her speech , the Center Manager , Technology Incubation Center , Nnewi under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology , Pastor (Mrs) Uche P. Chukwu expressed gratitude to the governor for the on-going developmental projects in the centre through his intervention, including landscaping, the installed transformer, renovation of existing building and approval for the construction of Auditorium and Incubating Block Complex, among others.

Mrs. Chukwu assured that they would work to achieve the vision and expectations of the state government and urged the youths to take full advantage of the opportunity.

She commended Obiano for donating the 300KVA Transformer adding that the event marks yet another remarkable and glorious mile stone in the history of the Centre and Anambra State.

‘’Today, we are witnessing a lot of developmental projects going on in this Centre courtesy of His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano– the entire premises is being landscaped, the transformer installed and ready for commissioning, the existing buildings renovated and approval of the construction of Auditorium/Incubating Block Complex, etc.

‘’We remain grateful to Your Excellency. Today will also be remarkable in the lives of 500 youths of Anambra State who are beneficiaries of His Excellency’s magnanimity in flagging off this skill Acquisition/empowerment programme as one of the key players in the industrial revolution initiatives of this administration.

‘’The Centre has remained focus towards achieving its objectives and has also contributed greatly towards the economic and industrial development of Anambra State and environs.

‘’At this juncture, may I convey the deep appreciation of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology and Director General/CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) to your Excellency towards the actualization of the objectives of the Incubation Programme. Also I wish to extend Honourable Minister’s assurances and commitment towards achieving the objectives of the Youth Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Scheme which in Anambra State is in line with our mandate of nurturing and facilitating the growth of technology based SMEs.

‘’I therefore enjoin the benefitting youths (beneficiaries) to be serious minded and take full advantage of this rare opportunity offered to them by His Excellency to improve on their economic self reliance.

‘’I thank the Honourable Commissioner of Science, Technology and Mineral Resources, Chief Obi Nwankwo who has worked tirelessly for the success of this event and ensuring a sustaining and effective collaboration between the Centre and Anambra State Government’’.

Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Maja Umeh said he feels elated that the first set of 500 entrepreneurs to be, have just begun the race to self actualization, describing the move as a bold initiative. He commended Governor Willie Obiano for that bold step and encouraged the learners to  be serious to actualize their vision of enrolling in the first place.

Umeh informed that the Anambra wheel of development seen as the economic engine will assist in pushing the enablers with a greater outcome if the needed support is given by the political class. 

Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Science and Technology , Anambra state , Nwabuonu Ogbaji  insisted that the Anambra is regaining its pride of place following the investment wisdom of the Governor in areas of Agriculture , trade and commerce and industrialization as well as Oil and Gas and appealed on all to join hands in making the vision and mission of Obiano , a reality. 

Sole Administrator of Nnewi North local government, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jnr said Obiano’s government appointed members of his team from Nnewi and that APGA government has done over 85 roads in Nnewi and therefore should be supported to return to power.

Commissioner for Environment, Hon Evarist Uba and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Prof Solo Chukwulobelu as well as Commissioner for Transport, Hon Chuma Mbaonu  in their separate speeches noted that the Technology Incubation center has potentials of transforming the youths into future Entrepreneurs and business Chief Executives. They applauded the transport support of N5, 000 each to the trainees for a month , urging them to be dedicated and committed to get the best out of the scheme.