Just In:Tinubu's Aide Empowers 95 South-East Youths With Entrepreneurial Skills, Start-Up Tools

By Wilson Ogbonnaya Okereke

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Barr. Chioma Nweze, has empowered 95 youths drawn from the five South-East states with entrepreneurial skills and start-up equipment to promote self-reliance and reduce unemployment in the region. Speaking during the distribution of empowerment items at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, on Sunday, Barr. Nweze said the beneficiaries, selected from the 95 local government areas across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, had undergone intensive training in tailoring, business management, financial literacy and other vocational skills before receiving start-up support. She explained that the programme was designed to equip young people with practical skills and provide them with the resources needed to establish sustainable businesses. "The beneficiaries had no prior knowledge of these skills before joining the programme. Having successfully completed the training, they are now being provided with sewing machines and start-up funds to enable them begin their businesses immediately," she said. According to her, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at tackling unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and improving the livelihoods of Nigerians. Barr. Nweze urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity, expressing confidence that the programme would boost economic activities in the South-East and transform many of the participants into employers of labour. She also highlighted ongoing Federal Government infrastructure projects in the region, including the reconstruction of the Enugu–Abakaliki Highway, Enugu–Port Harcourt Highway and Abakaliki–Afikpo Road, while commending the Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, for his contributions to infrastructure development in the South-East and across the country. The wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, lauded the presidential aide for investing in the future of young people, describing the initiative as a significant step towards economic empowerment and regional development. In his remarks, the Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, commended the empowerment programme and pledged his continued support for initiatives that improve the welfare of citizens and ensure that the dividends of democracy reach the grassroots.