BY SUNNY A. DAVID
The Ministry of Youths Development of Anambra State has reached an agreement on strategic partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to massively explore and harness empowerment opportunities for the youths of the State.
This landmark agreement was reached following the visit of Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha-Mba to his Ministry of Trade and Commerce counterpart.
Earlier in the discussions, the Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Ministry’s officials, said that the key objective of the visit was to intimate his Trade and Commerce counterpart on the various programmes of the Ministry and discuss the areas of collaboration.
Mr. Agha-Mba said that the essence of collaboration is to take youth empowerment in the State to the next level.
He emphasized the State government’s commitment to developing youth through numerous programmes like 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution in order to ensure higher productivity and contribution to the State GDP, saying that the Ministry has already developed a program called Job-kikstart Solution, which is intended at closing the gap between job seekers and employers, while building the capacity of the youths in understanding Management, Workplace Essentials as well as Career Choices.
Mr Agha-Mba commended the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for creating the enablings for investment and youth development, acknowledging the achievements of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in the present administration.
He noted that youth development programme cannot achieve the desired object without the involvement of Ministry of Trade and Commerce, hinting that plans are underway to improve the Apprenticeship Scheme of ‘Umuboi’ for better effectiveness.
The Commissioner expressed the need to create job opportunities and link up youths with employment and relevant skills that will help them become self employed which in turn, reduces crime through positive engagement.
Responding, the Commissioner for Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, welcomed the team to his Ministry, commended him for his achievements and promised to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Development to achieve the State government’s youth development agenda.
He said that his Ministry will assist in bringing big corporate organizations to serve as Master Trainers in the 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution, explaining that the Ministry will organize a programme called Solution Master Class, which will help in developing both undergraduates and unemployed youths through big industries like Innoson, ABC and Cosharis in order to achieve the desired objective.
The Commissioner also reiterated the need for the trainees to publicize the experience gained from the empowerment programmes in order to impact useful knowledge to other youths for their futuristic use.
Highpoint of the event was the formal presentation of 1 Youth 2 Skills brand to the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, who in turn, presented “Made in Anambra Tea” to the Commissioner for Youth Development and his entourage as part of the campaign for the promotion of Made in Anambra Products by his Ministry.
Meeting attendees included the Acting Permanent Secretary, Youth Development Mrs. Chito Osili, Special Assistance to Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Eloka Maduekwe, Special Assistant to Governor on Youth Development Engr. Emeka Tony Omatah, Executive Assistant to Governor on Youth Development Mr. Chibuzor Udeh, Director Industry Eboh-Nwosu Josephine Nkiruka, HOD Small Medium Enterprises, Mr. Okwudili Obiefuna and the media team of the Ministry.
