A group, the Ochendo Youth Foundation,has udertaken to underwirte the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees of 150 indigent but bright students, comprising equal number of males and females, selected from secondary schools in Ohafia Zone of Abia State.

The non-governmental organisation made the pledge when it rolled out its empowerment programme for youths in the zone.

At the unveiling of the empowerment programme designed to make Abia youths self-reliant, 108 jobless youths received various items, including three mini-buses, 26 tricycles (popularly called Keke), 16 generating sets,17 refrigerators, 30 sewing machines and five hairdressing machines.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries are expected to set up their own businesses with the items donated to them.

Youths in Aba zone had earlier benefitted from similar gesture.

Co-ordinator of the group, Engr. Chinedu Orji, at the presentation ceremony of the items at the Ebem headquarters of Ohafia Local Government Area, advised youths in the state to evolve ways of being self-reliant.

“The era for depending on government for white-collar job is over,” he said, stressing that the youths should wake up to this reality.

The Co-ordinator said the vision and goal of Ochendo Youth Foundation was to give Abia youths a sense of belonging and make them self-reliant in the long run to enable them to become useful citizens.

Photo Caption
The Co-odinator, Ochendo Youth Foundation, Engr. Chinedum Orji, handing over the key of a Sienna bus to one of the beneficiaries as the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko-Chukwu, (1st right) looks on.