Commentary: Youth Empowerment Through Job Creation – The Obiano Model

Written By: Comr. Godwin Ibekwe

No doubt, well equipped youths are the leaders of tomorrow. That is why Governor Willie Obiano’s admonition to the youths in Awka on Tuesday last week during the 2019 International Youth Day celebration is exemplary.

Governor Obiano challenged our youths to emulate the shining examples of our heroes past who made their marks in their youths. For instance, our country’s founding father, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was only 30 years when he single-handedly created a course in African History at Lincoln University, USA and subsequently moved to Ghana where he lit the fire of nationalism and the earliest agitation for independence across Africa.

Chinua Achebe was only 28 when he published Africa’s greatest novel; Things Fall Apart. Chuba Okadigbo acquired two doctorate degrees in Philosophy and Political Science and became an Associate Professor of Politics in Howard University, USA before the age of 34 and at the age of 37, he had become a Political Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari.

Chimamanda Adichie was only 29 when she published her classic novel, Half of a Yellow Sun and at the age of 31, she was officially pronounced a Genius. There are also great sports men and women, great entrepreneurs, scientists, historians, soldiers and clerics who made their marks at a very tender age. This shows that Anambra youths have always set themselves apart very early in life.

That was exactly what the five girls from Regina Pacis Secondary School Onitsha did in August last year when they won the Gold Medal at the World Technovation Challenge at the Silicon Valley in San Francisco, USA. And that was also what the four boys from Saint John’s Science and Technical College School, Alor did when they won the Bronze Medal at the World Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology in Tunisia in March this year.

No doubt, Anambra youths are our pride and hope. They give us hope that our tomorrow will be brighter than our today. And that is why we celebrate them. This year’s International Youth Day centres on Transforming Education. It seeks to underscore the need for a more qualitative education for our young ones. Education is a multiplier of development that enriches the lives of individuals and societies across the world.

There is no better way to prepare the youths for a meaningful life than Education. That is why Obiano’s administration has continued to invest heavily in education. It is a fact that Akpokuedike holds the youths in high esteem. That is why 40% of all political appointments by his administration are youths. Obiano has equally made critical interventions in the lives of the youths from the jobs he has created in Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade and Commerce, Oil and Gas.

While the big agricultural farms in Anambra North and South have created multiple jobs for our youths, the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA) has also created pools of young entrepreneurs and industrialists across the state. In fact, Anambra recently won an Award as the Best State that supports MSMEs in the country. That Award came in recognition of ASBA’s support to Anambra youths by investing in their entrepreneurial dreams.

And in continuation of the tradition of giving the best possible chances to the youths, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy has trained over 750 youths on different skills like Event Management and Confectionaries, Computer Management and Software Application, Tiling, interlocking, Cosmetology as well as the installation of Solar Appliances.

Remarkably, during the youth day last week, Governor Obiano launched the “Triple-I-Initiative”. ‘Triple-I’ stands for Inventor, Investor Initiative. It focuses on discovering youths that have technovative skills and exposing them to capitalists that may wish to invest in their ideas for the benefit of the larger society. He also inaugurated the Smart Job Scheme; an ICT programme that aims to empower 5,000 youths by equipping them with relevant ICT skills and ensuring that they are absorbed by the private sector after acquiring those skills. Also unveiled last week was the Youth-on-line TV/Radio, which will expose and promote the creative industry of Anambra State. Akpokuedike equally approved the setting up of a Film Village and Creative Center. It will serve as an all-in-one center for the production of Nollywood films, drama, music and other art forms. 

It would be recalled that the Executive Council of Anambra State had resolved to build two mini-stadia in every community in Anambra State to serve as modern training facilities for our youths. The state government has already set aside five million naira per community for these facilities.

Meanwhile, work is progressing at a fast pace at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Umuawulu/Mbaukwu. Corps Members who distinguished themselves with outstanding efforts during the service period were also honoured by the state government. There is no doubt therefore that soonest; our youths shall announce their arrival on the global stage of their own exceptional talents.