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Sunday, January 8, 2012

LAUNCH OF WORLD BANK SPONSORED YOUTHS’ EMPOWERMENT SCHEME IN ABIA STATE.

By Chief Don Ubani
by empowering her youths; that is- The economy becomes more vibrant and sustainable while Crime is reduced to the barest minimum. Being conscious Today, the people and Government of Abia state will play host to the inauguration of the Youth Empowerment Scheme, known as ‘YOU-WIN’, an initiative of the World Bank and the Federal Government. The ceremony which will be performed by the co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, will mark the formal introduction of the scheme in the South-East Geo-political zone. YOU-WIN! stands for Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria. It is an innovative business plan competition aimed at job creation by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas. The scheme which was unveiled by President Goodluck Jonathan last month is targeted at youth between 18 and 35 years who already own businesses or have viable business plans. Suffice it to say that the scheme is part of the government’s plans at reducing the level of youth unemployment in the country, which is currently very alarming.
The Government and people of Abia state are conscious of the fact that the occasion being held in the state capital, Umuahia is a zonal event for Abia, Anambra, Ebony, Enugu and Imo States which is expected to have the Governors of the concerned states in attendance. Abia State government is naturally excited by this Youth Empowerment Scheme; YOU-WIN, as packaged by the Federal Ministry of Finance, with the assistance of the World Bank. The State government, under Chief Theodore Orji, knows and appreciates the sensitive role youths play in the socio-economic and political dynamics of any polity and has, therefore, been consistent in her pursuit of youth empowerment. Abia State government has always believed that there are, at least, two fundamental gains a society inevitably derives of the necessity of youth empowerment for a robust, productive and crime-free society, the state government, through the ministries of Youth Development, Women Affairs and Co-operative and Poverty Reduction, has been empowering the Abia youths through various skill acquisition programmes. Many of the beneficiaries of the state youth empowerment scheme have also been assisted with equipment and funds that could facilitate their take-off as self-employed citizens. Only last year, the State government facilitated the training of about one thousand five hundred Abia youths in various trades. Currently, it has embarked on the training and funding of four thousand, five hundred and fifty Abia Youths. It is therefore no surprise that Abia State was chosen to host the launch of this Youth Empowerment Scheme for the South-East Zone. It is incontrovertible that of all the commercial cities in Nigeria, Aba, is has substantially proven its capacity for effectively combining merchandize with manufacturing. The economic policy of the Abia State government is encapsulated in its transformation agenda, which lays emphasis on self reliance. This economic policy is in tandem with that of the federal government and as a result produces a synergy necessary for economic growth. Aba, the industrial and commercial capital of Abia state indeed holds a great potential in any technological aspiration of the country. This is because the people are ingenious, creative, resilient and productive. Any investment in the state’s industrial capacity will therefore only be the right investment decision.
The Abia State Government wants to assure the World Bank and the Federal Government that the essence of the YOU-WIN programme, to the extent of its application in Abia State, would be a total success in all its ramification.

Source: FRCN daily commentary

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