Enugu House of Assembly member representing  Awgu south state constituency, Hon.Johnson Chukwuobasi Okwudilichukwu, has tasked youths  and women to embrace vocational skills as part of strategies to create jobs and reduce rate of unemployment in Nigeria

Stressing on the need for youths and women to equip themselves with vocational skills, and not education  alone, he stated that there is  a ready-made market for them to render their services in such technical skills and live a sustainable lifestyle. 

The lawmaker who made this known to youths and women  in enugu during the flag off of his  Empowerment program tagged “Hon Johnson youths with skill and trade program” in Awgu on friday described  learning of vocational skills and training as very vital thing to do rather than waiting for almost non- existent white collar job

READ ALSO Breaking: Enugu lawmaker flags off empowerment program, empowers  100 youths and women 

Adding that it is  a major panacea towards addressing youth unemployment in the society, noting  that such initiatives, if imbibed by majority of youths and women, would reduce the high rate of unemployment in the nation, thereby improving the socio-economic status of the people especially, the youths

He noted that for the nation to stem the menace of crimes and criminality caused by idleness, there was need for meaningful engagement of youth, thereby creating attitudinal change and adding positive value to the society at large.

The Hon. outlined the reasons behind hosting the program, stating that his visit to his people is to help them secure funds to enable those with skills start their business and those with business push their business further.

“The essence of this money gift to people who have skills already is so that they can use the money and add to their business and make more gain. There’s no rocket science in acquiring a skill. Find one thing and do for yourself so that nobody will embarrass you.”

“We need to start shifting our mindset from the angle of thinking because we have a certificate we can’t do any other thing, and begin to think of vocation, trade or any form of skill.”

“I want us to begin to think inward, education is not an end itself, but a means to an end.  The essence of this skill empowerment programme is for you to have something doing, and when the youths are having themselves engaged in one vocation or the other, those issues of insecurity will be gone.

The Empowerment  programme  which  had  a massive turnout  of Awgu stakeholders  attracted  lots of youths and women from Awgu  local  government, area.

And was geared toward supporting  people who were domiciled in Agwu local government with cash to support  their businesses  and skills.

Ugamatv reports that the programme recorded 100 of Awgu  youths and women being beneficiaries of the three million, five hundred thousand naira which was in fulfilment of the promise earlier made by the Honourable in vision to reducing   poverty, creating means of livelihood amongst his constituents, especially the youths and women.

Other beneficiaries at the program also included  three women groups namely, the Ugwueme global women initiative and enyemaka nwanne women Mgbowo and Ikeanumba foundation.

Speaking also at the event, the Commissioner  for science  and Technology  Enugu  state , Hon.Obi kama commended Hon. Johnson  Chukwuobasi  for his quality  representation of his people  stating that the program  is the first of its kind in the local government. 

Stating that no one lays so much emphasis on certificate acquisition anymore, “the emphasis now is on what you can do now with the skills you’ve acquired, which is self employment. My advise to you is to try and make very good use of whatever is given to you”. He stated

Hon. Ugonna  Ibe, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Enugu state  also advised the youths to take the empowerment given to them seriously to enable them breach the gap between the rich and the poor, stating that education is important but not enough.

 
Also speaking at the event, Honourable  member representing  Anniri  local government  in the state house  of Assembly  Enugu state, Hon Chinedu  Otaka ,also applauded Hon. Johnson Chukwuobasi for having his people at heart. And urged the people to keep praying for him for God to give him the strength to do more than he has done.

Hon. Alphonsus Orji, State Financial Secretary, PDP Enugu, also  lauded the lawmaker for what he has done and equally advised him to continue with it because it will help many of them in the long run.

He therefore advised the beneficiaries, to utilize the opportunity very well, stressing  that the money  was not given to them to buy food and eat, but to  be used as a way of growing and becoming self reliant.

Speaking about the programme, some of the beneficiaries expressed their joy over what was done by the Honorable, saying that the cash gift will go a long way in helping them in their business and prayed God blessing on him.