IMO state declares economic revolution package for youth empowerment- Njoku

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku has made bold to declare that the state was on the rise again as government is set to initiate practical economic revolution packages for youth empowerment and unemployment reduction.
The Deputy Governor made this assertion in his speech when he represented the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, during the opening ceremony of a nine days Imo Youths Empowerment Workshop powered by the state government in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and NIRSAL Micro Finance Initiative, at Ahiajoku Convention Centre, New Owerri.
He disclosed the displeasure of the Governor for not being around for the second time when such programme was held and made it clear that the Governor wants to do everything within his powers to reduce the unemployment rate of the state, especially among graduates.”I want to assure you that we have a Governor who we can all be proud of. Imo is on the rise again to the glory of God”.
The Deputy Governor read the address of the Governor in which he noted with dismay, the ranking of Imo State by the Bureau for National Statistics as the state with second highest unemployment rate in the South East zone of Nigeria, with 60 percent of its population, mostly graduates unemployed.
The address disclosed his passion to empower Imo youths, especially graduates to, not only become self employed, but to become employers of labour.
In his address, the Commissioner for Entrepreneurship Development, Hon. Noble Atulegwu who is the host of the event said the global economic recession, which was made worse by the outbreak of the deadly Covid 19 pandemic makes it more imperative for Nations to retool their developmental strategies, with focus on entrepreneurial education for Sustainable development.
“This workshop is timely for those of you who want to start your own businesses, as well as those interested in turning their fledging enterprises into successful story. Here again, I urge our worthy participants who are the first batch of the successful Imo youths to maximize your dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs, by embracing this goodwill as provided by this government and exhibit good conduct throughout the training”.
Making a remark at the event, the head, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Development Finance, Michael Ananambiet said the CBN was highly pleased to partner the state government in a programme to uplift the plight of youths of the state. He described Governor Hope Uzodimma as a pragmatic leader and reminded the participants that the money to be given them was loan that must be repaid which called for seriousness in any entrepreneurial programme they venture into.
Also making his remark, the representative of NIRSAL, Mr. Ikechi Onwumere described the programme as a kind gesture from the state government. He made it clear that being a participant of the workshop is not guarantee to get the loan as those who emerge successful during interview that will be conducted at the end of the training workshop will be recommended for the loan.