By Kingsley Maduforo
The foremost African writer and prolific novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe once said: ‘The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which is the hallmark of true leadership.’
But, the emergence of a dedicated leader like Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia State has really changed the political history and climate of Abia State. With flare and utmost passion for positive change in Abia State, this son of a teacher has engraved his name in gold. His achievements speak loud and people are wondering how the magic is being done. But, the answer is simple: the disposition of a leader rubs off on his style and achievements. The answer is prudence, transparency and self-mastery.
Adequate training and empowerment of youth has been identified as a core element of national development. The quality of the youth can be a parameter by which the future of any nation can be measured. If the youths are relegated to the background in the scheme of things, the failure of such society becomes imminent. This, therefore, reinforces the belief that youth empowerment is key to nation-building.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, during the official launching of the Npower programme at the Multiskill and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Umuobiakwa Obingwa Local Government Area of the State, appluaded Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for ensuring that the skill acquisition centre where the Npower participants are trained was established and for his infrastructural development across the state, stressing that the skill acquisition centre is perfectly in line with Federal Government readiness to provide resources for youths to excel. The Vice President charged the Npower students to make use of the opportunity and be committed to the programme. He also commended the Abia State Government for its efforts to cue into Federal Government empowerment programmes.
Gov. Ikpeazu understands that youth empowerment is characterized by certain factors: complete transformation of young mind through capacity building and active participation in decision making process and innovation. The governor in his speech commend the Chinese Government for providing a grant to train many youths in Abia State. He also advised the youths to endeavour to learn one skill or the other and avoid sitting at home to complain of no job, stressing that his government will continue to create enabling environment and patronize their handiwork.
Another strategy adopted by Gov. Ikpeazu in tackling youth unemployment in the state, is the Education for Employment (E4E) programme, which has skill acquisition and vocational training in its curriculum. The idea is to prepare the students to be self-employed after the school and also become employers of labour.
This programme has recorded a huge success, over 500 students have graduated from the programme and where issued certificate by the governor in their different field such as ICT, Beauty therapy (Hair dressing, Make-up, etc) Fashion Designing (Tailoring and Cloths Making), Leather works (Shoe and Bags makers), Welding and Fabrication, Hospitality, Waste management, Health and Social care, Carpentry works and Security.
Boosting human capital-education and training is a strategy for youth empowerment, which translate to reducing the unemployment rate. Any youth who is empowered with a skill has been transformed into a job creator. This is because from the empowerment gained, he/she can expand his business and employ more citizens which in turn helps in solving unemployment challenges in the state. Empowering the youths is like saving in a bank that cannot be affected by theft. The good outcome of the investment cannot all be consumed in totality. The above statistics prompted Gov. Ikpeazu to employ all mechanism to eradicate unemployment in the state. Let us support the government that works, let us support Gov. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.