Governor Hope Uzodimma d’Imo authorized 15,000 young people in the state, with the sum of N 250,000 each, to engage in various entrepreneurial ventures.
The empowerment took place on Saturday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
Uzodimma said that the young people who received the money in the form of start-up funds had already been trained in different skills such as fish farming, hairdressing, hairdressing and tailoring, among others.
He added that the empowerment was a demonstration of his commitment to securing a better future for young people in the state.
According to him, empowerment would help to distance young people from social vices, thereby reducing insecurity in the state.
“We are taking a practical step towards making our prosperity agenda a reality. Our shared prosperity agenda is not just a mantra, but a manifestation of our determination to empower the Imo people, especially the youth, not only economically but also politically.
“The only guarantee that today’s young people can truly be the leaders of tomorrow is to ensure that they are empowered today, so that tomorrow they can be economically strong to assert themselves as as leaders.
“We clearly understand that our future as a nation and as a state lies in the quality of the young people that we have today, we spare no effort to guarantee the future of our young people, ensuring them today “, mentionned.
The governor, however, announced that every last Saturday in June of each year would be celebrated as “Youth Day” in the state.
This, he said, was to give young people a greater sense of importance and create a forum for interaction and resolution of their challenges.
“I am delighted to inform you that as part of my government’s determination to engage our young people more proactively and make them more relevant, I will be establishing a forum for your regular annual interaction.
“This is about taking the necessary steps to encourage you to play the role of advocating for peace for a crime-free Imo state. I am therefore delighted to dedicate the last Saturday in June of each year to “Imo Youth Day”, ”he said.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the young people thanked the governor for this gesture.
Mr. Chukwudi Unachukwu, a beneficiary, praised the governor and pledged to put the fund to good use. (NAA)
