Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has kept his promise to launch a N500 million Trust Fund for Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas of the state.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday in Owerri, Okorocha charged it to ensure proper disbursement of the fund, stressing that the essence is to address the restiveness occasioned by poverty and lack of job in the areas.

The governor noted that the people of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta have been marginalised for the past 13 years of democracy in Imo State, assuring that the worst is over for them.

He maintained that the youths are the engine room of every society and as such, no country could function efficiently without the contribution from the future leaders.

Okorocha advised politicians not to use the youth as agent of destabilisation, but as partners in progress. He explained that the fund should not be used for frivolities, but for the development of the area. While calling for cooperation of the youths to the realisation of the set objectives of the trust fund, he challenged the committee to ensure proper disbursement of the fund.

In his address, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Kenneth Emelu, thanked the governor for the initiative aimed at empowering the youths of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta to be self reliant. He assured that through the scheme, a lot of cottage industries would be floated and youth restiveness will drastically reduce.

The commissioner charged the youths to channel their resourceful energies towards the ongoing global challenge to sustain the economy, society and environment.

He stressed the need for oil companies, corporate organisations and international donor agencies to assist government in youth empowerment as government alone cannot do it.

Speaking, the Managing Director ISOPADEC, Prince Henry Okafor, commended the present administration for having the interest of the people of the area at heart. He noted that the commission had in the past two years constructed 17 boreholes in each of the communities and a new office complex among other achievements.

In his speech, the president, ISOPADEC Youth for Oguta, Jeff Nwoha, thanked the governor for the empowerment programme and promised that the youths would cooperate with the government for peace and development of the area.

On his part, the ISOPADEC youth leader for Ohaji/Egbema, Sixtus Odinaka, commended the governor for the N500M Youth Empowerment Trust Fund.

On behalf of the ISOPADEC students of the area, Comrade Chimezie pledged students support to governor Okorocha’s administration, and thanked him for remembering the youths of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.

In a remark, the chairman of the committee, Bishop Cyril Okorocha, thanked the governor for appointing them, and promised to disburse the fund judiciously. Other members of the committee are Bishop Orisakwe Z. E, Rev. Paul Nwogu, Bishop Peter Ozigbo, Rev. Goddy Judah, Bishop Ugorji, Pastor Arizona Iheanacho, Bishop Dr. M.A Enyioha, Rt. Rev. Chidi Oparajiako, Bishop Dr. Josiah Ejimabor, and Rev. Dr. Andrew Hyacinth.

•Photo: Gov. Okorocha handing over the cheque for the N250m for Oguta Youth Empowerment Trust Fund.