The Government of Imo State in Nigeria’s South-East has concluded plans to set up a N500 million youth empowerment trust fund for direct empowerment of youths inOhaji/Egbema and Oguta areas of the state.

Governor Rochas Okorocha disclosed this when youths from Oguta LGA paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House Owerri yesterday.

He said that the fund would provide interest-free revolving loan for youths of the oil-producing areas to enable them establish businesses of their own and later pay back for others to benefit.

The governor said that the fund would be managed by the leadership of the youths to ensure equity, fairness and even distribution , pointing out that the fund was previously shared to few political leaders from the area.

He said that the programme would also include training of pilots and employment opportunities created under the ‘Youth Must Work’ programme of his administration.

Governor Okorocha revealed that his administration would navigate to human resources development having concentrated more on physical infrastructural development in the past two years.

He attributed lack of development and backwardness of the area to the attitude of their past leaders who were self-seeking, stressing that Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs have been in bondage for a long time owing to the attitude of those leaders.

The governor called on Oguta youths to use their votes in the forthcoming rerun election to retire those leaders.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Thaddeus Nwachukwu, a youth leader from the area, said they were in the Government House to appreciate the governor for his good work in Oguta.

Nwachukwu pledged the unalloyed loyalty of Oguta youths and promised to continue to support his government. He assured that youths will work for the victory of APGA so as deliver Oguta out of the hands of the “evil men” who controlled the area in the past.

•Photo shows Governor Okorocha.