MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EMBARKS ON REFORMATION AND REDIRECTION PROGRAM IN ANAMBRA’S 3 SENATORIAL ZONES

By Ifeoma Aniagbado :

Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development has embarked on the 2024 Youths Reformation and Redirection Programme across the three senatorial zones.

The program which is implemented to reach youths of different categories is aimed to equip them with necessary life skills, reorient their mindset and imbibe them with strong moral values towards positive lifestyle and to enroll the participants into the 1Youth 2Skills Solution Program.

It’s vision is also to address anti-social activities prevalent among young people and to re-integrate them gainfully and meaningfully into the society as change agents through value re-orientation, critical training processes, among others.

Declaring the workshop open in Onitsha North Council Headquarters, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba said that the workshop is in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision to develop the potential of young people as dependable human capitals.

He said the theme of the programme which is “Moving From The Street To Self-Realization For Self-Actualization” will give participants the much needed direction to live better and more useful lives.

Mr. Agha Mba also recalled that Governor Soludo, upon assumption of office, made a firm promise not only to eradicate different forms of social vices including touting from the state, but to also institute meaningful programmes that will positively change the lives of youths that were engaged in anti-social activities, emphasizing that the governor has now fulfilled and surpassed his promises.

Mr. Agha Mba mentioned some of the youth enterprise development programmes that will help transform the lives of youths socially and economically to include 1 Youth, 2Skills Solution initiative through which 5000 youths have been trained and empowered and an estimated 8,620 others expected to benefit from the second batch of the initiative and through Solution Innovation District (SID) where over 22,000 have been trained with digital skills empowered in the Level-up Anambra and Code Anambra programmes.

Also speaking, the Transition Committee Chairman of Onitsha North Local Government Area, Mr. Anthony Nworah said that he is overwhelmed by Governor Soludo’s programmes for the youth and advised young people to cherish and utilize all available initiatives to better their lives.

The Commandant, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),  Anambra State Command, Mr. Daniel Onyishi who was represented by an Assistant Commandant in the agency, Mr. Christopher Adabor while delivering a paper on drug abuse,

advised young people to re-evaluate their cycle and try to maximise every meaningful opportunity at their disposal to better their life.

Another speaker at the event, Rev. Goodwill Mba who spoke on “Seven Keys to Greatness”  noted that self discovery, diligence, keeping friends that are like-minded, being in good relationship with God, identifying mentors and roles models, determination to succeed and utilisation of positive opportunities are critical to realizing one’s dreams in life.

One of the participant, Messrs Shobayo Amadi thanked Governor Soludo for prioritising the welfare of youths and giving them opportunities to better themselves and promised that they will shun drug abuse and other social vices.

Another participant, Messrs Ebuka Ite from Ogbaru LGA expressed profound gratitude to Mr. Governor for giving the youth of Anambra a well packaged program like 1 youth 2 Skills free of charge.

Present at the event were the Director, Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs. Chito Osili, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development, Mr Tony Omatah and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Youth, Mr. Chibuzor Udeh.

* Aniagbado is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *