The Federal Government says it has trained and empowered no fewer than 95 youths and women across the South-East under its Skill-Up Programme aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
This was disclosed on Sunday in Abakaliki during the graduation ceremony for beneficiaries of the initiative by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Chioma Nweze.
Nweze described the programme as a practical expression of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to reduce unemployment, create wealth and equip young people with sustainable skills.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the 95 local government areas across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, where they underwent training in vocational trades such as tailoring and fashion design, alongside entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
According to her, many participants joined the programme without prior skills but have now been equipped with the capacity to become self-reliant entrepreneurs and job creators.
She said, “Today, they are leaving with skills, dignity and tools. This is what the Skill-Up South-East Agenda represents. We are not just training people; we are building a generation of self-sufficient young people.”
Nweze also disclosed that beneficiaries were provided with starter packs, including sewing machines and seed capital, to enable them to immediately establish small businesses after graduation.
She explained that the initiative was designed to tap into the entrepreneurial potential of the region and create pathways for young people to contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Works, David Umahi, said empowerment programmes should translate into business creation, job generation and knowledge transfer to others.
He urged beneficiaries to value the opportunity, describing it as a foundation for long-term personal and economic growth.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, represented by his deputy Patricia Obila, congratulated the participants and commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to remain disciplined, professional and committed in order to maximise the benefits of the training.
Wife of the Governor, Uzoamaka Nwifuru, also described the programme as a “new beginning” for many of the participants.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, beneficiaries Onyekachi Amuche and Blessing Ogbu expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity and pledged to apply their newly acquired skills to achieve financial independence.
They also appealed for the continuity of the programme to allow more youths and women across the region to benefit from similar empowerment initiatives.
The event ended with renewed commitments from stakeholders to sustain skills development efforts and expand opportunities for economic inclusion in the South-East.