Chinedum Elekwa
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has commended the unique youth empowerment programme of the Obosi Community in Idemili North, tagged “One Household, Two Skills”.
He said government’s “1 Youth, 2 Skills” needs to target families as well, calling on the rest of Anambra’s 178 communities to replicate Obosi’s empowerment to complement government efforts in job creation.
Speaking during the showcasing of the Obosi Innovation Skills and Empowerment Programme (OBISEP), the governor, represented by Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor praised the community for its distinctive approach to empowerment that centres on families.
“Obosi has shown another example. Communities in Anambra are doing empowerment, but there is something different about the Obosi empowerment.
“This initiative is titled ‘One Household, Two Skills’. It is reminiscent of the Igba Boi business startup system, which has ensured a break in generational poverty transfer in Igbo land, not just in Anambra State,” Soludo said.
Explaining the potential impact of the programme on poverty and insecurity, Soludo said, “If every community in Anambra State produces skilled individuals – say 100 trained persons per community – then with 179 communities in the state, we could generate 179,000 skilled job opportunities in one year, and if sustained, in a few years, poverty will be eradicated in our state.
350 people already trained
“Obosi has already trained 350 people. If other communities adopt the model and train 100 persons each year for the next five years, the multiplier effect could drastically reduce, if not eliminate, poverty.”
The governor emphasised that the initiative’s distinctive feature is its household-focused approach.
“This is not a broad, general empowerment programme; it targets families. If sustained, Obosi may have introduced a formula to eradicate poverty within all households, and if the same model is replicated across Anambra, the positive impact could be felt in the coming years.
“There is a correlation between poverty and crime; address poverty, and crime is addressed also.”
The convener of the programme, Chisom Onugha commended participants and supporters, urging graduates to mentor younger generations as they enter the workforce with high expectations and the capacity to transfer skills to the next generation.
He also credited Governor Soludo for introducing the “One Youth, Two Skills” platform, which Obosi embraced to establish the project.
