THE EMPOWERMENT OF 10,000 ABIA YOUTHS: A PROMISE ENCROACHED ON RAPID REALIZATION

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has performed the ground – breaking ceremony for the Dangote Education for Employment (E 4 E) job centre at Okpualangwa, the Isialangwa North Local Government Area headquarters in the State.
Performing the ceremony, the Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu pointed out that the promise by the present administration in the State to train and empower ten thousand youths was gradually coming to reality. He disclosed that government has selected some schools to be used as pilot schools for the E4E programme, saying schools such as Boys Technical College, Aba, Government Technical College, Ohafia among others have been chosen for the programme, assuring that Abia people would gain greatly with the programme.
According to him, Abia State was leveraging on its five pillars of development and its enablers including commerce, agriculture, Oil & gas, Small & Medium Scale Enterprises among others to create a robust economy for itself and the people of the State.
The Governor thanked the Dangote Group of Companies for providing millions of naira for the Education for Employment and expressed the readiness of the State to partner with all agencies and pro-groups for the common good of Abia people. He extolled the leadership acumen of the Executive Chairman of Isialangwa North Local Government Area, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, who he said has been planting programmes in line with the pillars of development of the present administration in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Isialangwa North LGA, Chief Ginger Onwusibe expressed joy for the choice of Isialangwa North for the establishment of the programme, disclosing that 220 youths have already been empowered in the Local Government Area as they have been trained in different skills.
He promised to provide enabling environment and necessary support for the success of the programme in the area as well as appreciated the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Dangote Group and the coordinator of the E 4 E, initiative, Endi Ezengwa for their various contributions to the programme.
In his speech, the representative of the Dangote Group of Companies, Mr. Charles Opel explained that the company’s support for the programme hinges on the fact that it believes in human capital development and expressed his pleasure to identify with Abia state in its efforts to develop and empower its citizens.
Mr. Opel announced that the company intends to sponsor the E 4 E centres, at least one in each LGA of Abia State.
Earlier in his address, the Coordinator, Education for Employment in the State, Mr. Endi Ezengwa took time to narrate how the programme came to be in the State through the efforts of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and thanked God for the realisation of the programme.
He made it public that a portal has been opened, where every information concerning E 4 E and Npower programmes could be accessed.
Mr. Ezengwa congratulated the Dangote Group on the partnership and prayed God to bless the group.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman, Isialangwa North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze J. N Nwabekee thanked the Governor for attracting the programme to their local government area. He equally appreciated the Dangote Group and the Chairman of Isialangwa North LGA for their efforts in empowering the people of the area and prayed God to bless them.