By Karen James
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has launched the second batch of the “One Youth, Two Skills” Solution initiative. The program aims to empower the youth in Anambra State by providing them with employable and exportable skills.
The launch took place at the International Convention Centre in Awka and witnessed the participation of approximately 8,620 qualified participants. Governor Soludo emphasized the importance of prioritizing human capital development and described the younger generation as the bridge to the future.
The first phase of the program trained 5,000 youths in skills such as igba boi (apprenticeship), mentorship, and more, resulting in many of them becoming employers of labor. For the second batch, the program received 183,000 applications, out of which over 8,000 individuals were selected due to limited spaces available.
Governor Soludo expressed gratitude to the youths for their responsible citizenship and for choosing to take their destinies into their own hands. He acknowledged the importance of proactive action and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that the youth are useful to society.
The governor’s goal is to transform Anambra State into the largest skill hub and create opportunities for the youth to become millionaires and global contributors. The program has five systematic pillars, including apprenticeship schemes, entrepreneurial skills training, formation of cooperatives, business financing schemes, and mentorship programs.
In the last batch, two billion naira was disbursed to qualified trainees, and an additional 2.5 billion naira startup capital has been set aside for beneficiaries through the Anambra Small Business Agency. The governor urged applicants to take the program seriously and assured them that it is not a handout but an opportunity for those willing to make a decent living.
Governor Soludo also highlighted the importance of community development and called for public-private-community partnerships to accelerate the development of Anambra State. He encouraged developmental partners to join in supporting the initiative.
During the event, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Aghamba, commended Governor Soludo for his commitment to the initiative. He praised the governor for creating a model that focuses on quality and aims to raise 1,000 youth millionaires annually. The commissioner reassured participants that the learning experiences from the first phase would be utilized to improve the program and expressed optimism that the second phase would achieve a higher success rate.
The event was attended by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, and other prominent figures. The program has the support of government officials, traditional rulers, and members of the Anambra State Executive Council.
With the launch of the second batch of the “One Youth, Two Skills” Solution, Governor Soludo’s vision for transforming Anambra into a skill hub is on its way to becoming a reality.
