Youth Empowerment Sure Way to Enhance Human Capital Development, Says Akobundu

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Senator Austin Akobundu has expressed his strong belief in youth empowerment, saying that providing opportunities for youths to learn skills in digital technology was a sure way to enhance human capital development.

The Abia Central Senator stated this at the event in Umuahia marking the conclusion of a six-week digital skills training programme for youths in his constituency.

The six-week programme focused on six high demand areas of digital technology, namely Cybersecurity operations, Graphics Design, Digital marketing, Website development, forex trading and UI/UX design.

In his address at the graduation ceremony held at the training centre, NostroCom House, Ogurube Layout Umuahia, the Senator noted that digital skills are not just tools for individual success.

“I invested in this programme because I firmly believe that empowering our youth is the most sustainable way to build the human development index of Abia Central Senatorial district and create a brighter future for all,” he said.

According to him, such skills represent path ways to innovation, economic productivity and community development, hence he charged the beneficiaries to create businesses that will contribute positively to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

This last batch of trainees has notched up the number of beneficiaries to 186 for 2024 while a total of 1,000 youths are billed for training in 2025.

The Abia Central Senator stated that youths from the 62 Wards in the district were the main targets of the training programme, adding that a deliberate selection method had been put in place to guarantee equitable representation.

He explained that the transformative skills development programme was his personal project initiated and being implemented through the Austin Akobundu Foundation, adding that no external funding was involved.

“Let me emphasize that this programme is not sponsored by any agency. It is an initiative of the Senator Augustine Akobundu Foundation, funded solely from my personal resources,” the Senator said.

Though Akobundu didn’t specify how much he has invested in the programme, he acknowledged that millions of naira has been spent cumulatively to make the programme a success.

He assured the beneficiaries of his continued support to deploy the skills and knowledge they acquired for their personal livelihoods and economic development of their local communities and Abia in general.

Apart from certificate presentation, the event also featured presentation of awards to six best participants that excelled in various aspects of the digital training.

The award winners include, Nwaeke Godson Chinonyerem (Forex), Wisdom Ezeocha John (Graphics design) Great Chioma Mary (Digital marketing), Gbaruko Chidozie Godwin (Cyber Security), Emole Peter Adimchinaobi (UI/UX) and Nwokoma Oddy (Website design).