Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state has reiterated the commitment of his administration to youth development, describing it as one of the most effective ways of eradicating poverty, improving productivity and preparing young people for the future.
Governor Mbah stated this on Thursday during his tour of the ongoing six-week digital training and specialised skills acquisition programme organised by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Charles Nnaemeka Edeh, in partnership with CUTECH Group of Companies.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stated that his administration was working tirelessly with young people to impart knowledge and basic digital skills that would improve their lives and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
He said what Hon. Edeh and CUTECH Group were doing was in line with the State Government’s vision of ensuring that Enugu youths were equipped with relevant and practical skills that would make them more productive and self-reliant.
Prof. Onyia praised the organisers for their visible and impactful efforts towards changing the lives of young people, while assuring that the training space would be expanded to accommodate more participants in the future.
He also assured that the government would explore ways of making the programme a recurring initiative, possibly holding it three times a year, particularly during school holidays, to give more young people the opportunity to acquire and improve their skills.
“Youth development is a direct investment in the future of Enugu State. When young people gain practical skills, they become more productive, more confident and better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the economy and society,” he said.
In his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Development and Mobilisation, Charles Nnaemeka Edeh, said the programme was designed to build a comprehensive youth development framework that would reach young people not only in Enugu metropolis but across the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
He stated that youth development was not an expense but an investment, adding that his office had accepted the responsibility of using youth development and mobilisation as important tools for making a meaningful impact in the state.
According to him, “This programme is only one step in a much broader vision. We want to ensure that talent does not remain undiscovered simply because a young person comes from a rural community or lacks access to opportunity. Every young person in Enugu deserves a chance to dream, a chance to learn and a chance to succeed.”
Hon. Edeh also assured that the State Government, through his office, remained committed to changing more lives through training and capacity building.
“When we train a young person, we are not only changing one life. We are potentially changing a family, a community and, ultimately, the future of our state. The Enugu we are building must be a state where young people are not merely waiting for opportunities but are equipped to create them.”
“A state where our youths can compete anywhere in the world while proudly contributing to the development of Enugu. A state where talent meets opportunity, skills meet investment, and ambition meets the right platform.”
Addressing the gathering, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CUTECH Group, Engr. Collins U. Onu, stated that the programme was part of his company’s corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at creating a positive impact on the people of the state.
He disclosed that more than 1,500 people applied to participate in the exercise, but only 200 were selected due to the organisation’s limited capacity.
He said the company was considering expanding the programme to accommodate an additional 60 youths in subsequent editions.
“The training is focused on giving young people practical skills that can improve their opportunities and help them become productive members of society,” Onu said.
He added: “We believe that young people should be given the right tools and knowledge to build a better future.”
According to him, “Skills acquisition is one of the practical ways to prepare our youths for the opportunities ahead.”
He said the company was committed to supporting initiatives that create positive change in the lives of young people.
“This programme gives young people an opportunity to learn skills that can become useful in their daily lives,” he said.
Onu further noted that “capacity building is important for the growth and development of our communities.”
He added: “Young people with the right skills can create opportunities for themselves and others. Our goal is to support young people as they develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed,” he
He described training young people as “a meaningful way of contributing to the development of the state.”
According to him, “Every young person deserves access to opportunities that can help them discover and develop their talents.”
He stressed that “digital skills have become important in today’s world, and our youths must not be left behind.”
Onu said CUTECH Group was “happy to partner with the State Government in providing this opportunity to young people.”
He maintained that “corporate social responsibility should go beyond business and contribute directly to society.”
He further observed that “the response to this programme shows that many young people are eager to learn and improve themselves.”
He expressed hope that “more young people will be reached as the programme expands.”
Highlights of the event included presentations by various groups on the skills they had acquired during the training. The areas covered included baking, various aspects of construction, computer software development and hardware repairs, audio and visual editing, fashion design and marketing, photography, among others.
The practical presentations demonstrated the impact of the training and the potential of skills acquisition to equip young people with knowledge that can be transformed into sustainable sources of income.
Some dignitaries at the event included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Rt. Hon. Paul Nnajiofor; Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Publication; Special Assistant to the Governor on Speech Writing, Hon. Amuka Acj; Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths and Student Affairs, Hon. Prisca Okeke; and other government officials and stakeholders.
