- From, Everest Ezihe, Ogbor Uvuru
Disturbed by alarming rate of youths unemployment, and poised by her commitment to create job opportunities for her teeming youths, the Imo State Government has given assurance that it would partner with Hope Rising for Imolites, a non-governmental organisation in their vision and mission of making Imo youths self reliant and employers of labour.
The State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, speaking through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declean Emelumba, disclosed this at Ogbor Uvuru, Abor Mbaise, the State Secretariat of Hope Rising for Imolites during the passing out ceremony of the 5th batch of training for 500 youths on CCTV, Inverter, Solar panel installations and maintenance.
Uzodimma expressed happiness over the program, noting that it offers the participant skills to earn meaningful living and confidence to excel in life and to jettison criminal activities and anti social vices.
According to the Governor, “I am highly pleased with what your organisation is doing by empowering the youths across the 27 council areas of the state and 305 wards, in skills acquisition, not even in consideration of their political party affiliation. This is in line with my administration’s Share Prosperity mantra. My government is highly interested in partnering with your organisation in improving and consolidating on this”.
He described the Co-ordinator, Chief Akagburuonye as a member of his administration’s kitchen cabinet and commended him for being philanthropic in things concerning the welfare of the youths and humanity in general.
Responding, Chief Akagburuonye, who is the Founder and National Leader of Hope Rising for Imolites said he could not thank God enough for the privilege to anchor the programme of training Imo youths for self reliance, sustenance, and to secure the future of the state, stressing that these youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
The Coordinator further stated, “we have some challenges, our expatriate partners are feeling insecure hence our passionate appeal for security, they are also advising the government to create Solar Stations in all the Local Government Headquarters in the State so as to sustain the project, ascertain that these graduands can also train others in their locality, to provide the alternative means of power supply to cushion the effects of epileptic power supply and the cost of power in the areas where they belong”.
He presented over 200 Imo youths whom he said have acquired skills in solar panel installation and maintenance and have equally been certified worthy both in character and in learning to be awarded their Certificate of Competence.
Akagburuonye reaffirmed that Governor Hope Uzodimma is God send in emancipating Imo citizens, that he dismantled a proposed dynasty that would have thrown Imo State into perpetual slavery.
The National Leader said it point-blank that his organisation was not into playing politics but rather stood for good governance and inclusiveness.
According to him” this programme is not for APC members alone, come as you are, when you taste and see that our leader (Uzodimma) in the State is not partial, not greedy, not wicked, he is God fearing and accommodating, they can now judge because you don’t kick from a distance”.
In his speech, Prof. Boniface Nworgu, the State Commissioner for Science and technology while commending Akagburuonye for his patriotism, reiterated the state government’s willingness to partner with Hope Rising for Imolites in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
In his own contribution, Chief Chibututu Isiguzo, the Managing Director, Solar Light System Nigeria Limited and Leader, Hope Rising for Imolites, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State, said that skill acquisition was the best means of youth empowerment and wealth creation especially in a poor economy like Nigeria where there is youth unemployment and under-employment.
Isiguzo was full of praises for Akagburuonye for the sponsorship of the free training programme on establishment of solar energy maintenance and installation as a strategic means of cushioning the effects of youth restiveness and insecurities due to unemployment.
According to him ” this form of empowerment program is unique in the sense that every participant in the training program is automatically equipped with the knowledge of the installation and maintenance of solar energy projects such as solar house installation, solar street lights, solar industrial and commercial installations.
For Barr. Raph Nwosu, the State Commissioner for Works, who was ably represented by Engr. Peter Amadi, the Ministry’s Principal Engineer, he applauded the Coordinator of the programme for his labour of love towards the youths, insisting that, “the program ranging from (CCTV), Solar panels Installation, inverter, maintenance and so on, are very important to the development of Imo State and as such creates employment for her teeming youths, thereby producing captains of industries in their own little way which in turn creates employment under the Shared Prosperity mantra of Governor Hope Uzodimma”.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Amarachi Obasi noted that when she wanted to learn the program about a year ago, she was asked to pay 250k and for two weeks she has learnt the packages free including feeding and decent accommodation while thanking God for the rare opportunity.
Highlight of the occasion was issuing of certificates to the beneficiaries by the Governor’s representative and the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology.
