The second phase of the Imo Youths Empowerment Programme of the Shared Prosperity Government initiated by Governor Hope Uzodinma commences Thursday, 19th November, and will end on 25th November, 2020.
The scheme, which will train 2, 000 Imo youths, is being coordinated through the state ministry of entrepreneurship and skills acquisition, to cater for the welfare of Imo youths in the aftermath of #EndSARS protests.
The ministry’s commissioner, Mr Noble A. Atulegwu, told our correspondent that the first segment of 1, 000 participants would be trained between Thursday 19th and Saturday, 21st November 2020, while the second batch of another 1, 000 participants would take their turn on Monday, 23rd to Wednesday- 25th November, 2020.
The commissioner, who said the venue was at Ahiajoku Convention Centre, Owerri, said the participants were expected to adhere strictly to the NCDC Covid-19 protocols by wearing their nose masks, as well as keeping to safe distancing.
He further said that participants of previous empowerment programmes under the scheme, yet to be empowered, should exercise patience ‘as the necessary documentation and process in releasing the needed funds as takeoffs for their businesses are on course, and will be released soon’.
Our correspondent recalls that Gov Uzodinma, as part of measures to quell youth restiveness following the recent #EndSARS protests, announced N6bn take-off fund for a youth empowerment programme in the state.
According to him, N2bn of the N6bn had been released for the immediate kickoff of the skills and acquisition programme.
In his words, “My government has approved an immediate release of a takeoff fund of N2bn out of N6bn earmarked for an accelerated youth empowerment programme. The N2bn take-off fund will be deployed for the training of the first batch of the beneficiaries of this scheme. The programme will train in the first, second, and third batches, an estimated number of 5, 000 Imo youths in different skills acquisition programmes within the next two years, and provide them with startup capital to begin their own enterprises.”
