National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Princess Gloria Akubundu, on Wednesday disclosed that the Federal Government would empower 500 women, youths in the South-East geo-political zone.

She called on women and youths from the five south eastern states of Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi to embrace skill acquisition describing it as the greatest asset one could have in life.

Akubundu made the call at an ongoing week-long skills acquisition training programme held at Senator Uche Ekwunife Event Center, Awka.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Abang, who is the Director, Programmes Development and Implementation, said that the participants at the end of the programme would be empowered by the Federal Government.

According to him, the zonal programme is jointly sponsored by the Federal Government through NEPAD.

He explained that the participants, who were carefully selected from all the political wards in the zone, were being trained various skills which include, shoe making, tie and die, beads making, confectioneries, hat making, catering, and bag making.

Abang added: “The Federal Government has made it a priority to empower youths and women and government therefore expects the trainees to take the programme serious. This is because no matter how rich your parents or husbands are, you need to contribute towards the sustenance of your families.”

He urged them to form cooperative societies at the end of the programme to enable them access loans from various financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Bank of Industry (BoI), and Nigeria Agricultural Bank.

No fewer than 1,000 women have already benefited from the distribution of food items which took place during the training.

They were given such items as onions, pepper, fish, bags of rice and beans, etc.