By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has flagged off a week long free intensive skill acquisition training on various vocational skills for the youths of Anaocha Local Government Area.

The training programme which commenced on Tuesday, 6th August 2024 with an official ceremony held at the local government headquarters, Neni, is targeted at empowering 500 youths of the LGA with vocational skills while the exceptional trainees will be empowered with starter kits in the aftermath of the training programme.

The participants who are mostly youths and women selected from across the communities that make up the council area will be equipped with skills on 14 vocational areas comprising of soap making, shoe making, yoghurt production, cosmetology, bag making, granola making, fascinator, catering and solar energy. Others are tailoring, computer literacy, hair dressing, makeup and decoration.

Declaring the event open during the official flagoff, Governor Soludo who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Empowerment programme, Dr. Nelson Omenugha commended Anaocha Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Romanus Ibekwe for the noble initiative geared towards empowering the youths of the LGA through skill acquisition training.

Dr. Omenugha stated that the exercise will have a lasting and positive impact as the beneficiaries of the training programme will now be meaningfully engaged and endowed with skills to put food on their table, become employers of labour and contribute their quota towards the growth of their community, local government and state at large.
 
In his remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Anaocha Council Area, Comrade Romanus Ibekwe said that the program is in line with Governor Soludo’s one youth two skills initiative meant to empower every Anambra youth with at least two skills. 

Hon. Ibekwe averred that youths which are the foundation of any society need to be empowered and prepared to engage the future with a unique mind and commended Governor Soludo’s passion on youth engagement and development. The TC Chairman admonished the participants to take the training programme seriously as his administration is concerned about the welfare, wellbeing, growth and development of Anaocha youths.

The Chairman of traditional rulers’ council in Anambra Central Senatorial District and traditional ruler of Akwaeze, Igwe Christopher Okpala described the programme as unique and a good platform for Anaocha youths to be empowered. Igwe Okpala urged the people of Anaocha to support Comrade Ibekwe's administration in taking the LGA to greater heights while praying for God's guidance and direction for Comrade Ibekwe.

On her part, the Head of Local Government and Administration, Anaocha LGA, Dr. Mrs Ego Okeke eulogized Hon. Ibekwe for his thoughtful ideas and innovation for the youths of Anaocha which will bring about further development and socioeconomic growth in the area. Dr. Okeke opined that such opportunity does not come always as she advised the beneficiaries to make the best of the training period and become employers of labour through dedication and hard work.

Also speaking, a training consultant and one of the trainers in the field of catering and decoration, Mrs Chinenye Onuegbu advised and encouraged the trainees to be steadfast, dedicated and committed towards the life changing skill acquisition programme while also promising continuous support to help the beneficiaries of the training towards becoming global brands.
 
Some of the participants including Chisimdi Okafor from Neni and Mmesoma Obianuka from Aguluzigbo while expressing their profound gratitude to the TC Chaiman and other promoters of the program promised to impact the society positively using the training and empowerment as the foundation.

Others who made their remarks during the occasion were Hon. Onyebuchi Okpala, an APGA Party Stakeholder; Sir Anthony Ugorji, APGA Chairman Anaocha and many more. 

Highpoints of the occasion was the commissioning of the Solution Kitchen domiciled in the Secretariat.