A total of 1,500 youths of Anambra State origin have benefited from the community youth empowerment scheme set up by the Office of Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization.

The scheme, the brainchild of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Oddy Akubuike, was conceived in August last year with the sole aim of assisting indigent students and apprentice youth across the state.
Speaking at the presentation of his score card at his office in Awka, Akubuike explained that the beneficiaries were selected randomly from the three Senatorial District of Anambra Central, Anambra South and Anambra North.
He said: “The programme was initiated by me and because I did not want to task our governor for funds, I approached public spirited Anambrians who provided funds which I also added to my personal funds to achieve this.
“During the 2018 yearly outing of the traditional ruler of Enugwu-ukwu, the sum of N20,000 was given to each of the nine first class graduates.
“I also purchased forms and registered indigent youths across the state for the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and also sponsored extra-moral classes for candidates of the 2018 examination SSCE form select local government areas in the state.”
He said that free computer training programme was also organised for the UME candidate for the computer-based test (CBT) for youths in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone.
According to him, the empowerment programme was designed to keep the youths out of crime and in so doing, mould them into becoming functional members of the society.
While noting that his office has also organised skill acquisition programme for three hundred and fifty youths in the area on soup making, tailoring, hair dressing, computer repairs and auto electrical repairs, Akabuike said that arrangements were also being made on the area of providing for them to take off and are already training apprentices in their respective fields of endeavor.
He urged captains of industries, non-government organisations and other members of the public to assist in providing Anambra youths with enabling environments to be gainfully employed.