Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has said that youth empowerment is a tool for wealth creation that leads to socio-economic advancement.

Orji made the disclosure on Friday at the graduation of 400 beneficiaries of Abia Skills Acqusition Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in Umuahia.

He said that youth empowerment programmes created an enabling environment for young people to contribute positively to the growth of the society.

``This programme has created an opportunity for young people to engage themselves in ventures that will make them become good representatives of their families.

``This has further reduced the number of unemployed youths in Abia by empowerment of 400 people, an indication that this skills acquisition programme is a success,’’ Orji said.

A SURE-P Consultant, Mrs Bisiola Nwakodo, said the beneficiaries were trained in catering, computer operation, fashion designing, hair dressing, fish/poultry farming and interior decoration.

Nwakodo said the beneficiaries were placed on a monthly stipend of N10, 000 and attached to establishments for internship during their trainings.

“I am confident that the beneficiaries through practising what they have learnt will bring economic growth to the state,” she said.

The wife of the governor, Mrs Odochi Orji, urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the youth empowerment initiative by practicing the skills they had acquired.

``Self-reliance is capable of helping one to genuinely serve others and develop one's talents,’’ she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chinwendu Abazie, said that she would use the equipment to generate income for her family's upkeep, while Mr Ndukwe Kalu, said he would become self-reliant and an employer of labour.

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/youth-empowerment-tool-wealth-creation-says-gov-orji