By Uzo Ugwunze
About three hundred trainees have graduated from the first batch of the Obosi Skills Acquisition, Empowerment and Palliatives (OBISEP) Pilot Phase One project initiated by the Obosi Development Union(ODU).
Speaking to newsmen during the event which held at the Obosi Town Hall, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State, the President General Obosi Development Union, Ambassador Chimezie Obi described the event as a graduation ceremony of the trainees of the OBISEP project of Obosi called “One Household Two Skills” project that was initiated by the ODU Skills Acquisition Empowerment and Palliative Committee.
“This is the graduation ceremony of about three hundred out of seven hundred deployed to over fifty Master trainers to learn about thirty one different skills. The essence was to domesticate what Governor Soludo is doing in the state level down to the grassroot.
“We decided that any good step at the state government level, we try to domesticate it. We saw the One Youth Two Skills initiatives and decided to replicate it in Obosi and today we are happy to let the world know that we are graduating about three hundred out of seven hundred trainees of the programme”.
“Whereas that of the State Government was for Youths we decided to inculcate not only youths but also adults who are interested to learn new skills that will enable them put food on their tables.
“We have no major sponsors. We told our people both at home and in diaspora that with #75,000 you can change the life of someone via skills acquisition in the space of four to six months and they got interested. Some paid for one person while some paid for three or four persons.
“We do not have funds to give out start up kits or capital. So, we are requesting for more financial support from individuals, organizations, corporate bodies and the Anambra State Government which the Commissioner for Youths promised that he would communicate the Governor to see how the state can assist,” said Obi.
Speaking in his welcome address, Chairman, ODU Skills Acquisition Empowerment and Palliatives Committee,Worldwide, Comrade Chisom T. Onugha said “what we are doing in Obosi today is to bring down the legacy of Mr Solution Governor, ‘One Youth 2 Skills” in as much as we call it “Obosi 1 Household 2 Skills” programme. The reason is to ensure that the benefits and positive impacts of this initiative are felt in various families in the households.
“The idea is to ensure that those who do not have hope of economic sustenance will begin to have hope, those who are less privileged, the indigent ones will know the community have something for them. So we the entire ODU, the Igwe and Ndichie are doing everything possible to support this programme.
Mr Onugha while commending Govenror Soludo on the ‘1 Youth 2 Skills’ initiatives urged other communities to emulate the “1 Household 2 Skills” initiative as a grassroot model for even and faster human and community development. He equally pleaded with Governor Soludo to support these communities who wish to take up these projects financially.
Moreover, the Anambra Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon Patrick Agha Mba, expressing his gratitude to ODU for targeting youth enterprise development said “this programme is coming at a special time when government of Anambra state is driving towards serious partnership to empower the youths of the state.
“Youths make up about sixty five percent of our population, it is a significant number and segment of the society that must be provided with the right opportunities which will ensure that they are kept busy and away from crime”,he said.
The Commissioner however noted that the state government cannot do it alone thus, the need for Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP). I am happy that today Obosi Community has responded in line with Mr Governor’s call for individuals and cooperate entities to assist in the development of the state as over 98 percent resources are in the hands of the individuals.
“The government of Anambra state are ready and eager to work with Obosi Community to ensure that this programme is completed. Obosi Community is doing the right thing. I thank the Igwe and Obosi Development Union for joining hands with the government to building a better future for our youths, where they will become economically productive and socially responsive”, said Agha Mba.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Occasion, Major Gen. Emeka Maduegbunam (rtd) ably represented by Engr Chinedum Iweka said that the initiative was a wonderful thing, as the project is beginning to take the youths out of crime and engage them with vocational skills that will finally enhance their wellbeing and also the society to benefit.”It is encouraging to the Obosi people the support from the state government and I want to use the opportunity to encourage the indigent youths to take this training serious as the benefits cannot be over emphasized”.
According to the Vice PG, Hon. Anthony Amaifeobu,Obosi people are happy with this initiative. If we continue with this Obosi 1 Household 2 Skills, in the next three years there may not be thieves, hoodlums and touts in Obosi community. We urge every unemployed or jobless person in Obosi to join the program and we hope that there will be token in the future that will be given to graduants to help them start their own SMEs or vocation as soon we get more financial support”.
A beneficiary who graduated from the initiative under Poultry and Fish farming , Mrs Uche Okonkwo from Mmakwum village Obosi said that she and her family will ever remain grateful to ODU and the sponsors of the project saying that the knowledge she acquired from her Master Trainer, Edwin Obi of Edy Farm has empowered her for life. “Many of us are fulfilled in life and now no Obosi indigene will have any excuse to become a nuisance because we all have opportunities now to better our lives and society”.
Some of the skills for training include Industrial house wiring, cosmetology, catering and confectioneries, fashion designing, veterinary, and poultry, fish farming, computer technology, plumbing, beauty care, solar and CCTV installations among others.
