By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

The Initiator of the Obosi 1 Household 2 Skills project (an OBISEP pilot phase project) , Nze Hon. Chisom T. Onugha, has cried out for help, begging affluent indigenes of Obosi to give financial assistance to the OBISEP graduands so as to enable them set up their own businesses.

The OBISEP scheme, which is the brain-child of the Obosi Development Union (ODU) Committee on Skills Acquisition, Empowerment and Palliative, is created to extirpate poverty in Obosi families by equipping youths with skills with which they will earn their livelihoods.

During the graduation ceremony of the OBISEP Pilot Phase graduands, which took place at the Obosi town hall on October 21, 2025, Nze Onugha called on rich indigenes of Obosi to assist the OBISEP graduands to start their own businesses.

Nze Chisom Onugha, who is, also, the chairman of the Obosi Development Union (ODU) Skills Acquisition and Palliative Committee, narrated how the graduands overcame the hurdles of their vocational and entrepreneurial training to qualify for certification and financial empowerment.

“We started this programme in 2023, and deployed seven hundred people (trainees) to various training centres.

“Out of that seven hundred trainees, we graduated five hundred people in vocational skills.

“And after they had completed their vocational training, they were enrolled for training in entrepreneurial skills.

“Happily, now, three hundred and fifty persons, who had undergone vocational and entrepreneurial skills training, successfully, have graduated for award of certificates, granting of financial aid, and progression to the mentorship stage, “ Onugha said.

The mentorship stage, according to Nze Onugha, involves OBISEP’s doling out of financial aid to each graduand in order for the graduand to set up his or her business. And OBISEP will monitor the graduand’s business for a period of Six months to protect it from going under.

“At the mentorship stage, financial aid will be given to them through ODU Skills Acquisition, Empowerment and Palliatives(SAEP) Committee approved channel.

“And after three months of monitoring and supervising them, the remainder of their money will be given to them,” Onugha said.

But as OBISEP is in dire financial straits, which has threatened the sustainability of the scheme, Nze Chisom Onugha has beckoned on well-heeled Obosi natives to assist graduands, who hail from the same village as they.

“I am begging rich indigenes of Obosi to offer financial help and other assistance to members of their kindred, who had completed their training in vocational apprenticeship and entrepreneurial skills.

“It is the financial help, which you will offer them that will sustain OBISEP and enable the graduands to set up their own businesses,” Onugha said.

Important dignitaries that attended the event were the Anambra state commissioner for information, Dr. Law Mefor; the representative of Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi, Chief Okey Mgbemena; the Obosi Development Union (ODU) President General, Barr. Chimezie Obi; Anambra State Manager of SMEDAN, Engr. Chito Onuzulike; Director of Anambra State Agency for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non- Formal Education, Mrs. Ebele Ononihu; the Director of SME in Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mrs Loretta; OBISEP Diaspora Grand Ambassador & Promoter, Barr Emeka Uyamadu; OBISEP Technical Team Leader, Chief Christopher .U. Okafor; ODU Women Wing Leader, Mrs. Augusta Ebunam; and others.

•Chiedu works for the Anambra State Ministry of Information.